The Town of Oliver wants to enhance its ability to impose health and safety requirements on private property.
That’s the intent behind Safe Premises Bylaw 1388, due for discussion at Monday’s regular council meeting.
Chief Administrative Officer Cathy Cowan said this bylaw, combined with the Good Neighbour Bylaw, will give the Town the necessary tools to deal with unsafe properties, including vacant buildings.
As background, the Town adopted the Controlled Substance Nuisance Bylaw in 2007. This ordinance dealt with controlled substance properties in the community, but was limited to those that had illegal grow operations.
One of the priorities was to ensure that local government staff had the authority to enter properties for inspection purposes.
Council will discuss some proposed changes to be included in the new bylaw, which will have provisions for safety inspections, discontinuation of water services, owner obligations and penalties.
