Councillor worried about conflict with drive-thru, idling bylaw

At least one town councillor is not sure how to reconcile the passage of a permit agreement for a Tim Hortons drive-thru with the municipality’s existing anti-idling bylaw.

“I think we’re talking out of both sides of our mouth,” councillor Josie Wintersinger said last week.

She told council it’s “a bit of an oxymoron” to tell Erin residents not idle their vehicles, while at the same time approving a Tim Hortons drive-thru restaurant at 4 Thompson Crescent.

Mayor Lou Maieron wondered what other municipalities do in the same situation, while councillor Deb Callaghan noted some just don’t enforce anti-idling bylaws.

Councillor Barb Tocher pointed out the anti-idling bylaw restricts idling for over three minutes, and those in a drive-thru could turn their cars off if the wait is longer than that.

Wintersinger said she would like staff to investigate to decide if changes to the anti-idling bylaw are required. Council unanimously passed resolution to get input from staff and to refer the matter to the town’s environmental advisory committee for comment.

Later in the meeting, council also unanimously approved a conditional permit agreement for the Tim Hortons restaurant.