City of Hamilton to take steps to appeal Ontario Superior Court of Justice Divisional Court decision until new Council appointed and proceed with review of Municipal Disaster Relief Assistance Program (RMDRAP) applications
Hamilton, ON – In an effort to preserve the City’s rights, the City of Hamilton’s Legal Services staff will proceed with filing a notice of motion for leave to appeal last week’s Ontario Superior Court of Justice Divisional decision on the judicial review of the City’s removal of advertising from City bus shelters placed by the Christian Heritage Party of Canada and the CHP Hamilton-Mountain Electoral District Association in August 2016.
The City was unsuccessful in the application and the Court quashed the City’s decision to remove the ads and the subsequent motion of City Council to uphold that removal.
Staff will take the necessary actions related to the carrying out of the appeal process in the interim until further direction from Council is provided in December.
With respect to the large watermain break that occurred the evening of October 2 in the area of Dunn Ave. and Grace Ave. causing flooding on roadways and in a number of homes in the area, the City has opened the program Municipal Disaster Relief Assistance Program (RMDRAP) hotline so that affected residents can acquire application forms. Program staff will continue to review completed applications so that payments for eligible applicants can be processed as soon as possible in the event a grant program is enacted by Council in December. Council approval is required to activate the program prior to any monies being distributed.
Any residential property owners in the area of Dunn Ave. and Grace Ave. who experienced basement flooding as a result of the watermain break can call the program hotline at 1-866-596-2242 to have an application sent to them by the program administrators, Cunningham Lindsey Canada. Review the eligibility criteria for the program. (PDF, 67 KB)
Throughout the month of October, the City is also offering residents in homes impacted by the watermain break special bulk pick-up for unsalvageable items that were damaged by the flooding. Items can be placed at the curb any day of the week throughout the month. Items must not be over 200 pounds and any carpets or rugs must be tied in four-foot sections. Large construction material such as big pieces of drywall or wood unfortunately cannot be collected.