Moose Jaw Citizen was wrong or was he? The Ombudsmen’s report to the city was included in a council meeting that I stumbled across.
I would like to put some perspective to the Ombudsman’s report of August 13, 2020, sent to City Manager Jim Puffalt. I filed a complaint “June 30, 2020”, with the Ombudsman’s office about the outstanding work (*email October 10, 2018). So, understandably one should have expected all the work completed prior to the above date.
Email Aug. 4, 2020 to Carter Currie (Emails from report writer in the Ombudsmen’s office.)
I believe I am done for the most part, yes. I just have to write the letters to you and to the City and they have to be vetted by my boss prior to going out.
“I reviewed all the documentation and internal emails from the city. By the 5th I had completed my assessment. I forwarded that assessment to my boss who agreed with my assessment and I completed letters to you and to the city on the 11th and sent on the 12th.”
One should conclude that “all the work” to the Derelict Property was done by August 5, 2020.
“Since the formal complaint in August of 2018, the City has actively ensured that inspections have been completed and “work is done” on the offending property; it has applied the legislation, regulations and bylaws correctly; it has responded in a timely and reasonable manner; and has offered sincere apologies where appropriate.” (Stated in Ombudsman’s report to the city August 13, 2020.)
*Oct 10, 2018, at 5:21 PM, Jim Puffalt <JPuffalt@moosejaw.ca> wrote:
Good Afternoon Mr. Currie:
To provide an update on this issue:
There was a tarp placed on the roof to stop the leaking.
The roof will be repaired shortly.
All branches and apples were cleaned up.
The rear deck was removed
The back patio doors were boarded.
The grass that was required to be cut will be re-inspected tomorrow, October 11, 2018. If not done tomorrow, the City will take further action.
With regards to the internal demolition, the property owner has two months to start the interior demolition from the date taken out which will be diarized.
Rather than continue to exchange e-mails, the Director responsible for Bylaw Enforcement and I would be pleased to meet with you to discuss further.
Jim Puffalt
I did appreciate the update, I did attend the meeting, and again let me say when the city manager asked me what my expectations were, I said; demolish the house or return it to a livable state. So understand my frustration when I read the Ombudsman’s report submitted to the city that indicated all the work was done, and all regulations and bylaws followed.
Why would the property owner be appealing “if all the work was done?”
CITY COUNCIL
Monday, August 10, 2020 at 5:30 p.m.
b. Appeal of Order for 1511 Hastings Street West, EC-2020-0186
Could it be Puffalt who misled the Ombudsman’s office and reported “all the work done”?
You provided another update on “work that had been completed” by the property owner on October 10, 2018. (Ombudsman’s report)
So, Puffalt, did you correct the lady that wrote the report that other than yard clean-up and rear deck removed, you and your bylaw enforcement officer Montgomery hadn’t even started the “major work” by August 4 2020.
Most notable the “serious structural damage” to the south side of the roof, now, covered over by new shingles, (that wasn’t repaired.)
You and Montgomery don’t have to follow the “National Building Code of Canada,” when requiring work on Derelict Property?
But you follow the National Building Code when it serves your purpose to hold another citizen accountable.
(That addition “was constructed without a development or building permit and it does not meet National Building Code)
So could one conclude the work on the property wasn’t done and Puffalt either misled the Ombudsmen or failed to correct the mistruth in the report?
The City responded in a manner that was consistent with enforcement of the Property Maintenance and Nuisance Bylaw and worked with the property owner to correct the issues. (Puffalt’s report to council September 1, 2020)
Seems Puffalt forgot my complaint to the Ombudsman in June 30, 2020. Pretty hard to take credit for the work done when the owner was appealing the “work required”, August 10, 2020.
I do want to give credit where credit is due, “the yard was cleaned up.
Carter Currie
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
