Image from the Town of Greater Napanee
Greater Napanee could face legal action from Lennox and Addington County after a dispute over an encampment protocol map.
The town received correspondence from a law firm representing the county, demanding that the map be removed. The county argues the map wrongly identifies county-owned land as public property. A seven-day deadline was issued starting August 25 before legal steps are taken.
Town staff created the protocol following negative interactions between housed and unhoused residents. Legal opinions were sought before the map was finalized, and it has been used regularly to guide community response to encampments.
In response to the legal threat, Greater Napanee plans to send formal correspondence urging the county to create its own bylaw to regulate encampments on county property.
The town also wants the county to consult the public and develop a long-term strategy for managing encampments in the area.
