CENTRE WELLINGTON – Staff for the Township of Centre Wellington are looking into what neighbouring municipalities charge for noise bylaw exemptions after a member of council suggested the Township was charging too little.
In a report to council, staff suggested implementing a fee of $35 dollars for noise bylaw exemptions to cover administrative costs.
Deputy Municipal Clerk Lisa Miller explained the Township has never charged for an exemption even though the noise bylaw permitted charging a fee.
“Most of these noise bylaw exemptions are for families, weddings, backyard weddings is what we were looking at so that’s why we considered the cost to cover the administrative fees,” explained Miller.
Councillor Jennifer Adams says in the City of Guelph, groups are charged $800 dollars to be exempt from the noise bylaw and thinks the Township should charge more.
“I think it would be more appropriate to put increased fees there, similar to our municipal comparators,” said Adams. “That could be more easily covered by the organizations in our community versus potentially the impact of another four per cent on a family trying to keep their kids in swimming lessons.”
Council voted to have staff research what neighbouring municipalities charge and bring that information back to the next council meeting.
