Politicians greeted a proposal to transform the city’s bylaw enforcement officers from a causal workforce into a military-style enforcement unit.

“No longer will they be in unmarked cars, in jeans and t-shirts,” said Marty Hazell, director of building and licensing.

Instead, the idea is for the city’s bylaw officers to be provided full military-style uniforms, that includes Kevlar vests and ride around in marked vehicles.

“All of our staff need to be in uniform,” said Mr. Hazell.

Bylaw officers sometimes are asked to enter large, crowded parties uncertain of what could happen to them, he said. So they should be prepared for any possible event, he said.

Stoney Creek councillor Brad Clark had some reservations about equipping bylaw officers with a vest when they are not armed. And since they can’t properly defend themselves, if they walk into a party environment, they could be mistaken for police officers, he said.

“We could precipitate a reaction,” said Mr. Clark. “They have nothing to protect themselves.”

Mr. Hazell pointed out any time bylaw officers enter into what they believe to be an unsafe environment, they are accompanied by police officers.

Despite Mr. Clark’s concern, politicians were enthusiastic about the changes Mr. Hazell has proposed and the different work environment he has already established within the beleaguered building and licensing department.

Among a few of Mr. Hazell’s proposals politicians endorsed include:

• create a special enforcement section to deal with noise complaints, and other after hour vital services;

• on-going training be provided to officers. No training had previous been given to city bylaw officers, said Mr. Hazell;

• the special enforcement section operate seven days a week and respond to noise complaints until 1 a.m.;

• create a joint education program with other community organizations such as the university and college to relay information about the city’s bylaws;

• city provide mediation services to residents; and

• the bylaw enforcement establish a priority response system for complaints and that responses be conducted within an hour.

Mr. Hazell is also proposing to revamp the by-law enforcement division to create four sections that deal with environment, property standards, licensing and permits and the special enforcement unit which would target noise, parking tickets, and enforcement after hours and on weekends.

The officers enforcing environmental, property standards and licensing bylaws would wear what is called a “soft” uniform of golf shirts and pants, compared to the military-style uniform of their special enforcement unit colleagues.

Mr. Hazell said there will be changes to personnel and shifting of resources to the new units, and some costs associated with the more pro-active strategy of the department. Councillors talked about personnel issues during a 50-minute in-camera meeting.

Politicians are expected to vote on the recommendation at their council May 14 council meeting.

“What an overhaul this is becoming,” said Mountain councillor Tom Jackson. “This is so welcome.”

Mr. Jackson praised Mr. Hazell, who took over after three senior managers were fired in January 2007 for already making changes to the department. Mr. Hazell said a person was hired last January to establish a mediation service for residents with the city, and the specialized teams are being established been.

Mr. Hazell said the department has someone researching if businesses are operating without licenses. So far, he said, the person has found seven business per day without a proper license.

“I’m really excited to see this come forward,” said Stoney Creek councillor Maria Pearson.

Added Downtown councillor Bob Bratina who has had his own run-ins with the city’s bylaw officers over enforcing property standards, said the change that Mr. Hazell has instituted from the previous operations is “like night and day.”

Mr. Hazell said the changes in the bylaw enforcement division will meet most of the 48 recommendations contained in last year’s scathing internal auditor’s report that councillors had described the department as a “mess” and a division in “disarray.”

The report detailed a lack of oversight of job performance, discipline problems, and a lack of information if businesses even had a license to operate.

Mr. Hazell said morale for the staff “was at an all-time low.

“Things had to change,” he said.