Wellington North councillors divided on fence issue and permits
To fence - or not to fence.
It may be a question, but when it comes down to the finer points, it might not be a municipal issue.
At a recent meeting of Wellington North council meeting, councillor Dan Yake asked if the building committee is currently investigating a fencing bylaw.
Councillor Ross Chaulk believed something was happening.
Yake said he asked as the result of an ongoing dispute in Mount Forest.
Clerk Lori Heinbuch stated that while a fencing bylaw was discussed, the matter Yake was referring to is a civil matter between two property owners involving surveys and property line disputes.
Yake asked why the municipality could not simply require a building permit to install a fence.
Heinbuch said there is no legislation providing municipalities to require a building permit to install a fence.
“That does not address my concern,” Yake said.
Heinbuch maintained that the issue “is a civil matter between the two property owners and their lawyers.”
Yake maintained that it still seemed strange that a fence could be built starting on one person’s property and ending on another property.
Mayor Mike Broomhead agreed with Heinbuch’s assessment of the situation.
He said the township did get its own legal opinion on the matter.
