Council looks at public nuisance bylaw to address loitering

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Tillsonburg council hopes a new nuisance bylaw will address loitering downtown, and it will be brought forward in early 2027.

Council heard a report at the Sept. 28 meeting on the possibility of such a bylaw. Geno Vanhaelewyn, Chief Building Official,, said the report followed a council request to support downtown businesses and address smoking outside premises and loitering.

“The town has received complaints from downtown businesses and the public related to loitering, prolonged gathering in front of businesses, smoking near entrances and pedestrian areas and behaviour perceived as disruptive, intimidating or negatively impacting the downtown area,” he said.

Between 2020 and 2026, there were 68 complaints related to homelessness, loitering, smoking, drug use and other nuisance issues in the downtown. Breaking this down, 40 were related to encampments, 12 were about smoking, six complained about drug use, and two were about loitering.

Vanhaelewyn said staff are enforcing existing bylaws in this regard, but, upon further review, realized one bylaw may be a nuisance bylaw and is reviewing the smoking bylaw.

The motion council passed directed staff to bring forward a public nuisance bylaw in the first quarter of 2027, identify gaps in the smoking bylaw, and address them.

Coun. Bob Parsons said he hoped the new bylaw would include public education and signage.

“It will take a bit to get the folks to recognize what the new rules will be,” he said.

Vanhaelewyn said the bylaw enforcement officers would communicate the changes.

Coun. Kelly Spencer said she brought forward the concept of the review last summer, and was looking forward to seeing what comes of it.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy asked whether the bylaw would be complaint-driven or whether bylaw staff would be proactive in enforcement. Vanhaelewyn said he hopes staff will be proactive.