Clarification is needed on Erin’s water bylaw.
At the June 21 meeting, councillor Josie Wintersinger expressed concern the town might be operating without a water rates bylaw – because it has not dealt with a proposed town water bylaw.
Councillor Barb Tocher said, “My understanding is that we haven’t repealed the old bylaw yet, so I don’t know why you would think we’re operating without a water bylaw.”
Town Manager Lisa Hass thought all the water bylaws were repealed when council was dealing with water rates.
“Why would we repeal all of them,” asked Tocher.
She asked if the issue could be investigated.
“I can’t understand why we’d repeal the water bylaw,” she said.
She explained that typically a bylaw is only repealed once a new one is ready to be put into place.
Wintersinger said “Should that be the case, it is OK.”
If not, she would like to see the new water bylaw pass, minus the sections currently being reviewed.
Tocher agreed the matter should be corrected.
Mayor Lou Maieron said he thought that when the discussions were held, what council was aiming for was removing sections of the bylaw referring to the water rates.
He thought council had passed the bylaw portion regarding the water rate increases.
Tocher recalled staff had presented several options to council at that time.
“I think in the end, council decided to separate the bylaws.”
She added, she believes the bylaws were separate in the past as well.
“I can see why we would repeal the water bylaw – only the water rates bylaw. We need the clerk to check into that to ensure we have a water bylaw currently in place.”
