OUTLOOK - The town council of Outlook held a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, September 27. Present were Councillors Bob Stephenson, Kyle McLeod, Sharon Bruce, Justin Turton, and Ryan Husband, as well as Mayor Maureen Weiterman, Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Trew and Assistant Administrator Rachel Sillers. Absent was Councillor Kevin Grotheim.
The meeting was broadcast on the Town of Outlook's Facebook page.
A number of topics and items were discussed, including the following highlights.
Bylaws
Council addressed three bylaws at this meeting, those being the following:
Bylaw 05(2023) Development Permit and Fees Bylaw for 2nd Reading
Bylaw 06(2023) General Penalties Bylaw for 2nd Reading
Bylaw 09(2023) Animal Keeping Bylaw for 1st Reading
Following some discussion, Council passed the second reading for Bylaw 05.
On Bylaw 06, it was explained that the fines for any general penalties included $250 for a first offence, $500 for a second offence, and $2000 for a third and any subsequent offence. The bylaw's second reading was then passed.
Explaining Bylaw 09, CAO Trew touched on the fact that the Town last passed a Livestock or Animal Keeping bylaw back in 1981, and said that animal keeping or livestock control falls under the authority of municipalities. Much has happened in the nature of livestock control in various jurisdictions in the 40+ years that have since passed, Trew noted. Local residents Sandra and James Hofer hope to be able to keep a few chickens at their property, and requested that the Town revisit the bylaw. It was said that the Town should proceed with caution in possibly allowing various types of animals in residential zoning districts, and it was also shared that the town office has received a number of complaints opposed to the allowance and requesting the removal of the Hofer's chickens.
It was also recommended that Council seek public opinion on this matter before the bylaw reaches another stage, and makes amendments where needed.
Councillor Bruce went over the bylaw language surrounding keeping chickens within residential areas in a number of other communities dotting the landscape, sharing that while some towns and cities allow chickens to be kept in yards, some have complaint-based bylaws with something of a "one strike, you're out" rule.
Councillor Stephenson wondered why the Town would possibly move toward passing a new bylaw based on the request of just one pair of people, considering there was already negativity coming in to the office surrounding it. He felt that there was too much work being put in based on just one request that came in to the town.
Mayor Weiterman said that knowing the bylaw was a hot topic, it would be important for the public to come to them with any views and concerns following any passing of the first reading. However, that passing of the first reading didn't happen as two councillors abstained from voting, which counts as being opposed. CAO Trew asked if there was something else that could be created, but without chickens, and Councillor McLeod said he'd be okay with updating the bylaw but without a focus on chickens.
After some more 'what if?' discussion, Trew pointed out that any further discussion really should have taken place before an official motion was recorded.
"You can't discuss this again because you made a motion and turned it down," he said.
Mayor Weiterman said that Trew was being asked to update the 1981 bylaw and bring it back to Council.
The meeting's New Business portion of the agenda included talk on events that had already passed by the time this article in this week's issue was in the hands of readers.
