City Bylaw Abuses its’ Citizens
Home > Abuse & Neglect Studies Blog > City Bylaw Abuses its’ Citizens“My folks have a sad situation at hand in which they feel they have been discriminated against because of their age, eccentric ways and mental illness. They were mislead and mistreated by your department which has now created continued hardship for them. They have not been heard and feel dismissed. They feel victimized, bullied, violated and they were accused of untruths. This mistreatment to my folks should not have happened.”
My folks XXXXXXXX had Bylaw visit them in 2015 because of a complaint on the condition of their yard. Unfortunately the truth is XXXXXXXX did have a situation in their yard. Trying to make some extra money in getting stuff and selling it, collecting recycling bottles and ending up with two deceased family members belongings created the situation. They did work on cleaning up the yard and great progress was made.
At the end of fall 2015 bylaw gave direction that enough had been completed in the yard to put it on hold and another Bylaw officer, Cindy BIDULOCK would be taking over the file and would give direction to the folks in the spring of 2016. As the folks (XXXXXX are eccentric, socially awkward, and are delicate of health, emotionally and physically, I have been part of the communication process with bylaw.
Contact from Cindy BIDULOCK { (780) 495-0294 or via email at cindy.bidulock@edmonton.ca} came in the summer.
After a couple of meetings XXXXXX & XXXXX were feeling very bullied, pressured, mislead and confused. The Bylaw officers prior were patient, kind and supportive with clear direction. XXXXXXXX voiced their worries to this officer and the hardship it was creating and I contacted her and advised that they were feeling unsafe and fearful. Then she threatened to bring a contractor into the yard to assess clean up and to teach the folks a lesson as XXXX had brought something else into the yard. She was upset and of the mindset that the folks refused help from Sage; this was not the truth. The folks did not have extra money to pay workers from Sage to clean; (XXXXX had talked with them). Myself and my family had helped clean and their grandson cleaned as well. We had worked with them to identify what was recycle, good will, garbage and took dozens of loads out of the yard and we cleared out a great amount. XXXXXXe also has a social disorder and having strangers around creates health issues.
After the threat from Bylaw their son came to Edmonton to help them. When the officer and contractor showed up there was a conflict of words with them and XXXXXXX son. The officer gave notice that they would be coming in to do a clean up if the yard wasn’t immediately cleaned up. The officers previous had given direction and clarity and pieced out the clean up to make it manageable and now the process changed and this created confusion and crisis.
The supervisor Troy COURTOREILLE wrote a strong letter to the folks and myself indicating that there would be no contact from us to Cindy BIDULOCK As this was not a good fit we welcomed the change. However she was put back on the file and she showed up back at the house, left documentation that indicated if we had questions to contact her yet we were told by Troy COURTOREILLE that no communication would be returned to us from her. Communication was a great challenge because of this and unreturned calls and emails to the Bylaw office.
XXXXXXXX son worked with them; took out numerous loads of recycling and good will and two huge dumpsters took away garbage. It was slow going as they were recycling not just dumping and trying to make decisions on the deceased family belongings along with XXXXX own ongoing health complications.
As they were not going to be able to meet the deadline they put forth an appeal for more time. Due to nervousness and not clearing understanding the process at the appeal they (in the allotted five minutes) unfortunately did not present the request instead they shared the complications they were dealing with the neighbour’s tree breaking into their backyard that made it a danger to them and other troublesome trees still a problem and that no help from bylaw with their problem and this is what delayed their clean up as well. The process was not supportive to them at all; it was evident to everyone there that they were confused, overwhelmed, not representing themselves or helping their case yet they were dismissed , very sad this wasn’t handled different.
They continued to clean the best they could ; the daylight was limited the weather changing and XXXXXXX were overwhelmed or more frail. I then sent emails to bylaw asking for clarity. I detailed items and asked for clarity as to what was acceptable or what still needed work ; no response with clarity.
XXXXXXX worked through the incremental weather trying to make the deadline however the weather turned too severe to be outside. Doing due diligence I placed a call to Troy COURTOREILLE saying with the incremental weather it’s impossible to meet the deadline ; he advised that he hadn’t had opportunity to review the new photos and if sufficient work was done or if snow covered everything then it would be pushed to spring ; no promises he said; he never got back to me on the photos. The remainder to be cleaned was in the middle of the back yard.
No legible name on Notice of Entry – just a scribbled signature
Bylaw officer Cindy BIDULOCK together with EDMONTON POLICE SERVICE came pounding on the door, waking the folks,. XXXXXXXX goes outside. The Notice comes that December 22 (TWO DAYS BREFORE CHRISTMAS EVE) will be clean up date as City Bylaw feels IT’S A CRISIS. and they want the file closed before year. Troy COURTOREILLE who then adds more worry and pressure to the folks by threatening to send a crisis team to the house to assess them. The true crisis is the torment and damage to two delicate, eccentric senior citizens who deserve a quiet life end. XXXXX upset and overwhelmed and vulnerable and this is reported to with no harassment. I made phone calls asking for EMPATHY AND COMPASSION for my folks, NONE CAME.
On December 22 Bylaw Officer and contractor THINK GREEN arrived. Three hours of cleaning.
XXXXX & XXXX feel they have been treated unfairly and were mislead and possessions they were told they could keep were taken. During the meetings with bylaw and communication with myself and bylaw, XXXXXX were advised that the building material in the yard would not be touched. New lumber (see photo showing pile) plexi glass, nails, copper wire etc. were removed from the yard. The large charge for clean up is unfair and being charged to take good lumber away is just not right.
The Contractor, THINK GREEN charge of $5,200.00 seems very unreasonable for three hours work. During early discussions with Bylaw we had been advised that if a contractor was brought in the contractor would be at a minimum and fair cost and the contractor being used would adhere to recycling protocol which would also minimize the cost. I have made some calls and the quotes I have received are far less than half this amount. Fair and minimum cost and recycling did not occur. Considering Edmonton owns and operates a recycling plant that is well recognized as one of the best top notch recycling plants it is confusing as to why no recycling took place? The decision to not recycle impacts the cost. Money could have been recouped from Materials of copper wire and steel had it been recycled.
I have been talking to a branch manager and he had questioned me a couple of times as to why, if the material was worth money, we did not store it away and the reason being is we were told at different times these items were acceptable to be left in the yard as is.
On December 22nd Neighbours called me to say new lumber was being tossed ; I immediately called the branch manager and the Bylaw office and left messages to intervene; no calls were returned. A neighbour did ask a Bylaw officer as to why the new lumber was being tossed.
NEIGHBORS WANTED TO CALL MEDIA, THEY WERE OFFENDED BY WHAT THEY WERE WITNESSIING! HOWEVER ELDERLY PEOPLE ARE MOSTT OFTEN RELUCTANT TO BE PULIC ABOUT THEIR LIVES.
The current charge is very troublesome. XXXXXXXXX will have great hardship with any cost never mind unreasonable costs and this will create crisis (they are on a basic/small pension, no savings). It’s sad and unfortunate that they were not granted more time, it’s been terribly difficult and devastating to have their power stripped and the already unbearable conditions are now even more devastating with this overwhelming cost to them.
The contractor, THINK GREEN is extremely expensive compared to other removal companies; choosing to charge for dumping vs. no cost for recycling of some items would create a higher charge; choosing to dump instead of salvage for $ to reduce cost again creates a higher charge; Being charged to remove a huge pile of new lumber and then charged to dump created a higher charge and is all very unfair. The hardship and consequences for not working fast enough to get the clean up complete is just becoming more unbearable for XXXXXXX & XXXXXX..
XCXXXXXX are tormented and haunted and are feeling very victimized, discriminated against, unheard, and they need closure and as this is negatively affecting their life. For over fifty-five years they have been good tax paying citizens and they FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN MISTREATED BY THE CITY OF EDMONTON.
During communications with the Branch Manager he offered up a meeting for XXXXXXX to meet with another individual from Bylaw to go over the process and treatment and unfairness they endured including the unreasonable charges and they need an advocate to support them. I’ve tried my hand at communicating however they need someone who can manage the bureaucratic environment to support them, have their questions answered instead of being questioned (when I asked about the good lumber being removed after being told it could stay, the branch manager states that they wouldn’t use it all anyways, I state that it may not but that’s not the concern, I had requested a copy of the clean-up tape from the city weeks ago and they did send it to me last week and I have now reviewed the tape.
Ryan Pleckaitis
Director, Complaints & Investigations
Community Standards Branch
Citizen Services
5 Floor HSBC | 10250 – 101 Street | Edmonton AB | T5J 3P4
tel 780-496-5646 | fax 780-429-6976 | e ryan.pleckaitis@edmonton.ca
www.edmonton.ca
The city had the audio deleted from the copy they sent me, this seems very suspicious, however after watching the tape and the inappropriate behaviour of the workers I can only imagine what the workers were saying and that’s why the city deleted it.
The video of the first hour had the camera directed at the dumpster. There seemed to be up to six contractors and the loading was at a slower pace and at times very little was carried in their hands over to the dumpster (there were two small ladies in the group and the ladies would carry what they could, the men did not) it was very disorganized. There was still lots of room left in the first dumpster bin when they decided to close the doors and then they brought in a second bin. it cost them $ to buy it and now $ to remove it, I’m told that’s just miscommunication.
I had requested a copy of the clean-up tape from the city weeks ago and they did send it to me last week and I have now reviewed the tape.
The city had the audio deleted from the copy they sent me, this seems very suspicious, however after watching the tape and the inappropriate behaviour of the workers I can only imagine what the workers were saying and that’s why the city deleted it.
The video of the first hour had the camera directed at the dumpster. There seemed to be up to six contractors and the loading was at a slower pace and at times very little was carried in their hands over to the dumpster (there were two small ladies in the group and the ladies would carry what they could, the men did not) it was very disorganized. There was still lots of room left in the first dumpster bin when they decided to close the doors and then they brought in a second bin.
I ask about the unreasonable charge and I’m told the contractors need to make a profit, they had to wait in line at the dump, and they had to handle stuff we wouldn’t want to, I say that does not justify the amount, three dumpsters were loaded and would have been less if they didn’t take the good lumber, a dumpster company for a bin and two men for the day under $500 so for three bins it would be $1500, I’m told the contractors they used are specialized) and keep them safe
THINK GREEN took advantage of using THE VICTIMIZED SENIOR’S wheelbarrow, garbage cans with wheels, and a moving dolly to move the stuff to the bin (and shovels). And then they threw out the garbage cans and the wheelbarrows and the moving dolly into the dumpsters.
Another bizarre thing is THINK GREEN are billing for 10 truck hours ($223.00) and six hours for a truck and trailer ($194.64). They only used a trailer at the end. The trailer was backed into the driveway right before they left and they loaded 6 snow shovels, and ice scraper, futon frame, little cabinet, 2 aluminum ladders, plexi glass, plastic tube, piece of rebar, wheelbarrow and a bag. The bizarre thing is other then the futon frame and cabinet the other stuff was good stuff, why didn’t they load this on the bin …… then there is a charge for this load from the Edmonton waste management for 340kg a couple of hours after the clean up for a pick up not a trailer but a pick up ….. the estimated weight of what I saw loaded into the trailer would not equal the 750 pounds on the weigh scale bill, plus the plexi glass, shovels, ladder, wheelbarrow, had value to them.
These are the items that I saw being tossed in the video that have value; I’ve priced out replacement cost.
Leaf blower ($98)
Steel wheelbarrow ($179)
Lightweight Polly wheelbarrow ($86)
Crow bar ($40)
Wood ladder
2 aluminum ladders ($107-$185)
Garden hose x 3 @ $40 ($120)
Garden hose holder (($50)
Milk crates x4 @ $7 ($32)
Garbage can with wheels, one blue one grey @$25 ($50)
5 gallon gas can x 2 @ $20 ($40)
2 1/2 glallon gas can x 3 @$20 ($60)
Moving dolly ($120)
2 snow sliders @$45 (&90)
6 snow shovels @23 ($138)
1 ice scraper ($47)
Plywood 11 sheets @$24 ($254)
Screen walls
Fence boards
67 pieces of Wood 2x4x8 (or longer) @$4+ ($268)
339 pieces of wood 2x4x4 @$2 ($678)
21 pieces of wood 2x6x8 (or longer)@$7 ($147)
(I only counted the wood that I could confirm to be good wood, There was more wood and I’ll need to watch the film a few more times as the camera view was difficult to see the quality of the other wood)
The folks depend on many of these things to maintain their yard; the wheelbarrow to help move things around, the gas cans for lawn mowers (weed wacker, back up gas), shovels, hoses and ladders for cleaning, etc. The 2x4x4 lumber, dad had all this wood ready to build a wood sidewalk around the yard and the bylaw officer knew this. The other lumber was for replacing the fence and renos, and building.
These are the items missing from the yard that I did not see being tossed; and replacement value:
URN, this was an antique spiturn that had loved ones ashes in it (PRICELESS)
Nails 2 boxes @$30 ($60)
Workshop indoor outdoor vacuums x2 ($100-$130)
Copper wire ($525 roll)
Steel spikes 55@$12 ($660)
Plexi Glass x4@ $178 ($712) (saw two go into the trailer)
My parents feel bullied and violated and mislead. Most of the Clean up had been done before the city came in, the yard was no longer the mess it was to start with, the city could have had empathy and kindness and patience (the incremental weather slowed process) instead they decided my folks had to be taught a lesson and they wanted it off their books. They mislead my folks and did not keep their word or promise that building materials would be left alone.
The folks feel that their human rights and power were taken away and that the city and THINK GREEN contractors took good items (not just garbage) from their yard, they trusted the CITY WOULD PROTECT THEM and not let anyone STEAL from them. These people used my folks things and then tossed them out.
My parents are so very distressed. It’s sad enough the city came into the yard at all, but it’s an outrage for the city to charge them (labour and bin time) for removing good material. The amount charged to them is out of line and needs to be adjusted. My folks deserve to have the cost of the good items that were taken replaced.
My folks feel it’s unjust that the city doesn’t adhere to the same rules that the city impose rules on (rules against the mistreatment of elders, taking other’s property, smoking bylaws).
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