Shopping carts pulled from property law changes

Weeds start popping up on these boulevards on York Street in Cornwall, Ont. Sunday June 25, 2017. Homeowners will be required to cut their own boulevard grass as part of changes to the yard maintenance bylaw, expected to be approved by council tonight. The changes won't take effect until February 2018. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston)

CORNWALL – Bylaw enforcement of shopping carts that are dumped on private property is off the table.

Cornwall City Council agreed Monday night to pull the clause about shopping carts being treated as waste, which would leave property owners responsible for carts.

Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy, who took the floor to speak on the changes to the yard maintenance bylaw, said he had a problem with the shopping cart enforcement.

The mayor shared a case where an elderly lady would be responsible for a cart dumped on her property.

Chief Building Official Chris Rogers said the bylaw department would be “reasonable” given the circumstances – a comment the mayor didn’t entirely agree with.

The rest of the changes, including the requirement for property owners to cut their own boulevard grass, passed the first sniff test in a report to council as of 8 p.m.

Moments later, the bylaw was passed with no discussion. Check back to this story for updates.