Wellington North is now one step closer to having an updated burn bylaw with higher fees.
Council decided in February to regulate open air fires in the township and struck a working group to develop a bylaw.
The working group developed a revised bylaw and presented it to council at the July 7 meeting.
An information session was held for the public and stakeholders in April.
Feedback and suggestions were received and the most common theme seemed to be the need for a simplified process and communication/education component, stated a report presented to council.
Council voted unanimously to give first and second reading to the bylaw then sign the bylaw after a third reading on Aug. 15.
“Our intent is to give first and second reading to the bylaw but not the third reading to allow for the opportunity for fire personnel to train on the changes or any final comments from the public to come in,” said Mayor Andy Lennox.
“The intent would be to do the third and final reading and bring the bylaw into affect in the August meeting.”
Councilor Lisa Hern thanked all those that assisted in the process.
“I hope, I think we will eliminate a lot of the confusion within the bylaw and I’m actually really excited about it because it has an online component that is going to streamline our system quite a bit,” she said.
The online permitting form has yet to be developed but should be ready for full implementation before Jan. 1, 2017. The cost to develop the online form is unknown, but it may be up to $2,500, stated staff.
The report explained once the bylaw is passed, the set fines for the offences would have to be approved by the Ministry of the Attorney General, which takes around a month.
Bylaw highlights
The bylaw regulates the setting of open air fires within the township and it would replace the bylaw passed in 2015.
It states the fire chief may issue a total fire ban if conditions warrant as well as order someone to put out a fire if it is believed the bylaw was not followed.
It also states no one under the age of 18 may light or be in care and control of a fire.
Other highlights include:
– should the fire department be dispatched to a complaint regarding public safety or nuisance, the fire department will have the discretion to determine compliance with the bylaw and this discretion shall be final;
– anyone who lights a fire in the township is responsible and liable for any damage to property or injury to persons resulting from the fire;
– sky lanterns may not be released anywhere in the township;
– the burning of household garbage, tires, paint, asphalt products, roofing materials, chemical waste, rubber, coated wire, plastic, combustible cylinders, aerosol cans and petroleum based products is prohibited;
– permits are required for any person wishing to have an open air burn larger than one metre in diameter, except burn barrels, recreational camp fires, outdoor fireplaces, cooking fires or barbecues;
– for a burn exceeding 3m by 3m and 2m high, an inspection by the fire chief or designate is required prior to lighting the fire; and
– leaves, compostable material and yard waste may not be burned in urban areas.
Fees and fines
Fire permits remain free with the passing of the bylaw.
The offences list has decreased from 23 to 16 offences, but the fines for the offences have increased to $295.
Wallace stated it was determined during the revision process that some offences were no longer needed or consolidated into one potential offence.
The fine for having a fire when a burn ban is in effect is $295.
Setting a fire without permission or a permit is $295, increased from $130.
