As reported on SooToday.com, already in the midst of a serious crackdown on uncared-for properties, City Hall staffers are being told they need to do still more.

“There’s a bunch of properties here that are decrepit and look terrible and are a blight on our city. What can we do to get rid of them?” Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Shoemaker demanded at City Council’s most recent meeting.

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“I think this council has been very clear that we have a much greater expectation of our bylaw enforcement and property standards maintenance,” added Mayor Christian Provenzano.

“I think it’s clear, based on direction from this council from the beginning of our term, the discussions we’ve had and some of the activity we’re undertaking with our additional bylaw enforcement officer, that we want higher standards and we want the standards that we have to be met,” the mayor said.

“And any standards that aren’t met, we want them to be dealt with in the shortest amount of time that is legally possible, but also we want to be reasonable.”

An enforcement blitz on messy yards and neglected buildings was declared earlier this year, with councillors agreeing to no longer waste time on unnecessary letters and warnings.

The target for fixing dilapidated buildings is now 35 to 36 days, compared to 81 to 82 days previously.

In June, council approved the hiring of Brant Coulter as the city’s second bylaw enforcement officer and property standards inspector.

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