Inverness County is addressing municipal services which have been on the receiving end of criticism.
During yesterday’s regular monthly meeting of Inverness Municipal Council, a motion was
approved to introduce amendments to the municipality’s Sidewalk Maintenance Policy.
During the Feb. 18 committee of the whole meeting, councillors discussed the current policy, and as a result of that feedback, changes to the policy include mandating that sidewalks be cleared no more than 24 hours after a storm (currently that standard is 3 days). Other changes call for sidewalk clearing to take place on holidays and weekends, and that clearing take place around fire hydrants.
District 5 Councillor Lynn Chisholm said she is “very happy,” especially after receiving complaints from residents that sidewalks still were not cleared days after storms.
To make sure that the policy can be changed before winter’s end, councillors decided to vote on the new policy at the committee of the whole meeting scheduled for March 18.
Council also decided to invite officials with the company handling the municipality’s waste, Green For Life, to a meeting to review concerns with their service.
District 5 Councillor Lynn Chisholm said she is “surprised” at the number of complaints she’s been receiving recently, especially from the Mabou area, and she thinks it’s “important” GFL hear from councillors.
District 6 councillor Catherine Gillis said it seems like GFL is trying to avoid getting their feet put to the fire.
Deputy Warden Bonny MacIsaac said she hopes this can be fixed before the municipality undertakes a review of the service.
Cranton added that the municipality has a contract with GFL that the company has to live up to, and they can decide whether or not to renew.
Council agreed to the warden’s recommendation that staff reach out to GFL to schedule a meeting.