Of 115 notified owners, 7 eventually received a ticket later. (Picture Pixabay)
The City of Delson has put its words into action by issuing seven statements of offense to citizens whose basketball hoop protruded into the street on September 27. Affected residents deplore the gesture, while the Municipality recalls having warned them.
The City has enforced the by-law that prohibits the use of the municipal right-of-way, unless there is an exception. The passage of collection trucks, buses and construction machinery, in particular, was obstructed by the baskets, explained Mayor Christian Ouellette. It is for “a matter of security” that the Municipality acted to enforce the by-law.
“We responded to a request made by the MRC de Roussillon, added to the Journal Julie Doré, communications manager. In May, she informed us that the baskets were hindering the passage of collection trucks. The objective of this regulation is not to obstruct the roadway, but also not to impede the passage of emergency vehicles, buses, delivery trucks or any other vehicle of this type.
A citizen who received a ticket complained about it at the council meeting on October 11, while others decried the situation on social networks. Calling herself “deeply in shock,” the resident argued that a basketball hoop “doesn’t move as easily as a hockey net” while challenging the claims of Delson which describes itself as a family town.
“Far be it from me to ban children from playing in the street, wanted to qualify Christian Ouellette. What we ask is that the basketball hoop be moved to the entrance when the children have finished playing.
Since June, 115 homeowners have been notified at least twice through inspector visits, door hangers, social media posts and notices dropped in their mailboxes, he said. detailed. No sector was more problematic than another; the entire territory has been inspected by the City, added Ms. Doré.
For her part, the resident herself confirmed having spoken with an inspector at the beginning of the summer, then having received a letter, “but the communication was not clear that a deadline was in effect and that a statement of offense would be issued,” she argued.
The mayor said that improvements to the City’s communications could be made, but that the Urban Planning Department’s report indicated that all concerned citizens had been properly informed.
“Ninety-four percent of the people who were arrested complied with our request,” noted Ms. Doré.
Dissatisfied citizens can contest their statement of offense in the Municipal Court.
