HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY
DANGEROUS & UNSIGHTLY PREMISES
MINUTES
January 23, 2009
PRESENT:
Councillor Dawn Sloane, Chair
Councillor Gloria McCluskey, Vice Chair
Councillor Barry Dalrymple
Councillor Stephen D. Adams
Councillor Brad Johns
Councillor Sue Uteck
Councillor Lorelei Nicoll
Councillor Bob Harvey
REGRETS:
Councillor Andrew Younger
STAFF:
Mr. Robin McNeil, Staff Sergeant, Halifax Regional Police
Mr. Jeff Rogers, Regional Co-ordinator By-Law Enforcement Services
Ms. Angela Jones-Rieksts, Solicitor, Legal Services
Ms. Erin Dobson, Coordinator, Support Services By-Law Enforcement
Ms. Melody Campbell, Legislative Assistant
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
4. PRESENTATIONS
4.1 Dangerous and Unsightly Legislation and Process
4.2 Derelict Building Legislation and Process
4.3 Legal Overview
4.4 Role of the Municipal Clerk’s Office
5. ADDITIONS
6. NEXT MEETING DATE
7. ADJOURNMENT
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 1:08 p.m. in Halifax Hall, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - NONE
3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
MOVED BY Councillor McCluskey, seconded by Councillor Johns, that the Order of Business be approved. MOTION PUT AND PASSED.
4. PRESENTATIONS
4.1 Dangerous or Unsightly Legislation and Process
Mr. Jeff Rogers, Regional Coordinator of By-Law Enforcement, provided the presentation, Dangerous or Unsightly Premises, to the Committee.
Mr. Rogers presented the following overview to the Committee:
• General Overview
- Unsightly Properties
- Immediate Safety Issues
- Demolitions
• Definitions
- Section 3 r - dangerous or unsightly
- Section 3 v - derelict buildings
• Process Overview
- Exemption
- Identification & Contact
- Order to Remedy Dangerous or Unsightly Conditions
- Dangerous and Unsightly Premises Committee
- Compliance with Order to Remedy Dangerous or Unsightly Conditions
- Immediate Safety Issues
- Demolitions
4.2 Derelict Building Legislation and Process
Mr. Jeff Rogers, Regional Coordinator of By-Law Enforcement, provided the presentation, Derelict Buildings, to the Committee. It was noted that the Derelict Building Legislation gives HRM more power to act on derelict buildings within the powers of the Municipality.
Mr. Rogers presented the following overview to the Committee:
• General Overview
- By-Law D-300 Derelict Buildings
- By-Law M-100 Residential Occupancy
- Municipal Government Act
- Nova Scotia Fire Safety Act
• Definitions
- Section 2 d - Derelict Building
- Section 2 e - Habitable
- Section 2 h - Vacant
- Section 11 - Exemptions
• Process Overview
- Inspection & Identification
- Order to Remedy D-300 Conditions
- 120 Day Re-inspection
- Dangerous or Unsightly Premises Committee
4.3 Legal Overview
Angela Jones-Rieksts provided a brief overview of Dangerous or Unsightly Legal processes to the Committee.
Ms. Jones-Rieksts advised that the Committee would now use the word “adjourn” regarding its cases, not “defer”. If a case is to be brought back, in the past known as deferred, the case is now to be “adjourned”. She also advised that the HRM Charter is now in place.
4.4 Role of the Municipal Clerk’s Office
The Legislative Assistant gave a brief overview of the role of the Municipal Clerk’s Office.
8. ADDITIONS - NONE
9. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING
The next meeting of the Dangerous or Unsightly Premises Committee is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 29, 2009 in Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:32 p.m.
Melody Campbell
Legislative Assistant
