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Township of West Lincoln

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release: September 29, 2021

Township of West Lincoln Streamlines Enforcement of Municipal By-laws

West Lincoln, Ont. - September 29, 2021

The Township of West Lincoln Council, at its regular meeting on Monday, September 27, 2021, approved a new non-parking Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS), to increase compliance with Municipal By-laws and reduce costs associated with enforcement.

AMPS, which is legislated under the Municipal Act, 2001, is a faster, more flexible internal process for payment, appeal, and collection of penalties as it bypasses the court setting and has been proven to be a more effective method of enforcement.

Now, if a ticket for non-compliance with an applicable Municipal By-law goes unpaid, it will be transferred onto the individual’s property taxes rather than resulting in charges being laid in court, which can be costly and take months to years to reach a resolution.

The AMPS process can also provide the public with greater flexibility as to where, when and how they can interact with the Township in resolving their violations and penalty notices, creating a more streamlined, customer-focused service approach.

The Township’s Clean Yards, Site Alteration, Boulevard, Swimming Pool, Open-Air Fires, and Sign By-laws have been amended to implement AMPS. Further amendments may be made in the near future, to incorporate additional By-laws into the new system.

Quotes:

“This new system is a great step in ensuring that the By-laws that Council works so hard to enact and amend, to meet the needs of our residents, carry weight within our community. We look forward to seeing how AMPS supports enforcement efforts and better serves our taxpayers.”

Dave Bylsma

Mayor

“I want to thank By-law Staff for their extensive efforts in researching AMPS and leading the process of introducing this new system for the Township. Thank you to Council for their support of this recommendation; we are confident that it will provide a wide array of long-term benefits for our Municipality.”

Bev Hendry

Chief Administrative Officer

Media Contact:

Beth Audet

Communications Specialist

baudet@westlincoln.ca