Summerside stops billing for ditch filling
Last Updated: Thursday, October 29, 2009 | 9:54 AM AT
CBC News
Summerside, P.E.I., has decided to conduct a review of its ditch infilling policy and in the meantime residents won't be receiving any bills.
'I've done some checking on it. It's not legal.'— Summerside resident Ray Howatt
City council came in for criticism earlier this month when a 92-year-old woman complained she didn't have the money to pay for filling in of the ditch in front of her house. The city had sent her a bill for close to $2,000.
The ditch-filling policy was on the agenda for council's technical services committee Wednesday night, and about 40 angry residents attended. Ray Howatt is upset because the city filled in the ditch in front of his home when he didn't ask, and sent him a bill for more than $1,000.
"If I sign for a bill I'll pay for a bill. But if I haven't signed for it I'm not paying it," said Howatt.
"Coun. Lyle here made a comment in the newspaper that nobody had legally challenged this before? Well I'm sorry, you may get a legal challenge on this because I've done some checking on it. It's not legal."
The policy, which requires residents to pay 10 per cent of the cost of filling a ditch, is more than a decade old, and following the committee meeting deputy mayor Bruce MacDougall said a review is long overdue.
"I think everything that was talked about here tonight will be on the table," said MacDougall.
"Whether we drop the 10 per cent charge, you know all these issues that have been brought up tonight will be discussed at the policy meeting."
Councillors said a new policy should be ready for a vote within two months.
