Councillors prepare lists of unsightly properties

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Campbellton is moving forward on unsightly premises in all sectors of the community, with councillors preparing a list of those properties they deem to be in need of repair.

CAO Manon Cloutier said each councillor is to prepare a list and identify two or three as priorities within their area of the city. She said on Monday that she had received a list from each councillor but that some of those lists did not include priorities.

“We will be compiling a list of unsightly properties in each of the sectors after getting each of your final lists with priorities,” she told council. “Once we have that master list done, we will be looking into the costs of doing the work and go from there.”

Council deemed unsightly premises as one if its priorities shortly after being sworn in back in January 2023. While most of previously identified properties are of the dangerous variety, some properties simply need a cleaning up.

“What deem unsightly might not be viewed the same as a homeowner,” said Mayor Jean Guy Levesque. “What we consider unsightly might not be unsightly in the eyes of the owner so we maybe need to have better communication in terms of letting people know their properties need to be cleaned up. Not all of the unsightly properties are dangerous, some just need some attention.”

Cloutier noted that city officials, such as fire chief Rick MacNaughton, would be checking out the lists prepared by council and reporting to her on which might need to be addressed sooner than later.

She also noted that Maritime Enforcement is expected to be back this summer to provide the city with bylaw enforcement, which would include unsightly premises.

Cedar Street property to be demolished

Council had earlier voted in favour of giving the owner of 15 Cedar St. an extension to allow the property to be cleaned up, but it’s now due to demolition.

The building has been vacant for a number of years and council had previously determined it to be unsightly. When the owner failed to address the issue, council on Monday voted to have the building torn down and the property cleaned up with the bill to be sent to the homeowner.

Should that bill not be paid, the city will ask for reimbursement from the province, which will in turn put a lien on the property until the bill is paid.

Lurette et fils will do the teardown in the next couple of weeks at a cost of $5,500.