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New Hamburg Board of Trade Executive Meeting

April 14, 2010

1) The Executive welcomed Mayor Wayne Roth, Wilmot CAO Grant Whittington, Wilmot Clerk Barb McLeod, and Chief Bylaw Enforcement Officer Derek Wallace. The conversation with the township officials occupied most of the meeting. The following are notes from that conversation:

Points the Board of Trade raised:

  • concerned that visitors to the community are unaware of the proper places to park. Signage is unclear or absent
  • recommend better signage, and that event planners be better informed, so that they may direct participants to appropriate places.
  • Bylaw officer is leaving the Township van idling, and sometimes parking illegally in order to issue tickets

Points the Township raised:

  • parking is enforced by two groups: Township Bylaw, and the police (an independent body)
  • parking is not permitted on any street between the hours of 2:30am and 6:00am, year round. Although it is most stringently enforced in the winter, a ticket may be issued at any time of the year.
  • parking bylaws are posted at the entrance to every town
  • Township is also concerned with the impression left with tourists
  • If a vehicle blocks a crosswalk, a fire hydrant, or illegally occupies a handicap parking spot, it will be ticketed.
  • Re: Funerals: with the exception of the aforementioned violations, funerals are provided special dispensation. Illegally parked cars must, by the funeral director, be tagged with a sticker indicating "Funeral". Tickets issued in error may be discussed with Township.

Going forward:

  • Township will meet with heads of event committees to ensure that they are aware of parking bylaws
  • Township will survey signage, to ensure that it is clear and correctly placed
  • issues of non-compliance on the part of Township employees will be investigated. Customer service is important, feedback is appreciated. Queries or complaints re: Bylaw officers should be presented to Derek Wallace.

Subsequent to the meeting, the following communications have been received from Ms. McLeod:

Good afternoon Paul: just a note to advise the Board Executive that I have spoken to Mike Shantz of the Mennonite Relief Sale Committee who looks after parking, to thank him for all their efforts in the past in directing patrons of this event to the legal parking areas. I requested that if they could step up what they have done in previous years with extra directional signs, bigger colourful signs or a notice about parking prior to the event - whatever method they choose to alleviate parking infractions; help us to ensure emergency accessibility; and reduce the outcome of patrons that leave the event with a ticket and a bad taste in their mouth would be highly appreciated. He acknowledged our request and advised that they would do all they could. Staff are taking photos of the existing municipal parking signs and will look after any signage that is in poor repair or missing whether it means following up with the Region or our own staff.

And just this morning, again from Ms. McLeod:

Good morning Paul: I just wanted you to be aware that the wheels are in motion with the Region and the Township for additional/new signage. It should be in place fairly soon.

2) The Board was informed that work has been carried out on the water wheel, by Nith Valley Construction. They pulled the bearings apart, cleaned out all the old grease, regreased them and reassembled the bearings. They also did several repairs to the wooded paddles which included new stainless steel angles and bolts. This should leave the water wheel in good shape for several years. The invoice will be in the amount of $2024.00 plus GST.

3) Upcoming events were noted, including General Meeting Apr. 28 (wine tasting); General Meeting May 26 (Dennis Grimm of Pricewaterhousecoopers on impications of the GST); Board of Trade Golf Tournament (June 21).

4) Meeting adjourned.