Demolition diligence
In January, I wrote a letter to city council asking that they enforce the city bylaw in regard to the Inn at Westview [“Old hotel needs to come down says council,” August 26]. To my knowledge, over the next eight months, very little was done. On August 6, I received a short email from the city’s Chief Administrative Officer Mac Fraser. It should not have taken eight months to get this type of response. I copied Councillor Maggie Hathaway on Fraser’s email. Then the Peak article came out.
Fraser mentions in the story that he doesn’t think that council is empowered to do anything under the BC Community Charter. In fact, the legislation is clear that the city has the power to deal with this.
After I read the Peak article, I asked Councillor Hathaway if the city had sent [building owner] Jack Barr a registered letter (required under the bylaw). Barr then has 60 days to respond. He has the right to appeal what council is asking him to do. But, at the very least, this should be done to show that council has intent and the issue is not going away. I am not sure that this has been done, but it should be.
I hope the Peak, as a community newspaper, will not let this drop. This idea that the people of Powell River should feel sorry for Barr because he has some vacancies in his local properties and appears to be cash-strapped is not going to fly. Taxpayer monies should not be used to fund this demolition.
Al Drummond, Skeena Street
