Summerside extends unsightly premises warning period

Authorities in Summerside, P.E.I., have made the job of dealing with unsightly premises a little easier.

Council voted to amend its bylaw at its meeting Tuesday night. A warning to a property owner will now be in effect for 48 months instead of 12.

That means that an inspector has 48 months to re-enter the property at any time to remedy a recurring condition.

"Most of the long grass complaints that we have are repetitive," said Coun. Brian McFeely.

"The same owner or an absentee owner who doesn't cut their grass and we get complaints from neighbours."

Under the bylaw the warning has to be issued by council. That can leave a long lag time between the complaint and the delivery of a warning.

"You're almost in the position where summer is almost over by the time that we would get to the grass cut," said McFeely.

With the warning being in effect longer, inspectors will be able to act on complaints from one year to the next without having to go back to council.

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