Prior to the AMP By-law being in effect, fines issued under Merrickville-Wolford By-laws were permitted by the Provincial Offences Act and processed by the Provincial Offences Court system. This caused inefficient and ineffective by-law enforcement due to the backlog of the provincial court system.

AMPS are an effective alternative to the court system for processing minor by-law infractions and in cases where delayed adjudication may encourage continued non-compliance.

The Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer(s) may issue a penalty notice to those who are alleged to have contravened the by-law, instead of issuing a Provincial Offences Act ticket.

The By-law Enforcement Officers will still be able to issue fines through the standard process, meaning that a fine under a municipal by-law may still result in a Part One Court Summons.

Currently, the following by-laws are designated under the AMP By-law:

• Noise By-Law (64-2024)
• Licencing, Regulating and Keeping of Dogs By-law (09-2025)
• Yards By-law (65-2024)
• Chip Truck By-law (66-2024)

Municipal Office
317 Brock Street W.
Merrickville, ON
K0G 1N0

Village of Merrickville-Wolford
317 Brock Street W. PO Box 340
Merrickville, ON
K0G 1N0

You have the right to request a review or an extension for a review under Section 6 of the AMP By-law. Your right to request a review or an extension for a review expires if it has not been exercised on or before forty-five (45) days after the penalty notice date. If a request for review or request for an extension of time for a review is not received, it is assumed that you have waived the right to request a review. The AMP shall be affirmed and will not be subject to review, including review by any Court.

Your rights, to request a review and an extension to request a review by the Screening Officer, are exercised by giving the Municipality a written Request to Review form. The form must include the following information:

• The Penalty Notice Number.
• Your contact information.

After you submit your review request, the Screening Officer will reach out to you via email when they are ready to review your file.

In accordance with Section 6.10 of the Village’s AMP By-law, Screening Reviews will proceed by way of written screening unless, in the Screening Officer’s discretion, an in-person or telephone appointment is required.

If you fail to appear at the time and place scheduled for a Screening Review, or fail to provide any written submissions or requested documentation in accordance with a request by the Screening Officer:

• You shall be deemed to have abandoned the request for a Screening Review.
• The Administrative Penalty shall be deemed to be affirmed and will not be subject to review, including review by any Court.
• You shall pay to the Municipality a Screening Non-Appearance Fee.

The CAO may appoint Screening Officers and Hearing Officers such individuals and on such terms as the CAO considers appropriate. The CAO may appoint themselves as Screening Officer.

The Screening Officer may:

• Extend the time to request a review.
• Receive submissions from the Officer who issued the Penalty Notice under review; and
• Cancel, reduce or extend the time for payment for the Administrative Penalty and any associated administrative fees, on the following grounds if established by the Person on the balance of probabilities;
• You did not contravene the Designated By-law(s) as described in the Penalty Notice;
• The existence of Mitigating or Extenuating Circumstances; or
• The cancellation, reduction or extension of time for payment of the Administrative Penalty, including any Administrative Fee(s), is necessary to relieve any undue financial hardship.

The Screening Officer will issue a Screening Decision to you in writing.

You may request a review by a Hearing Officer within seven (7) days of the issuance of a Screening Decision. You may request an extension of time to submit a Request of Review by a Hearing Officer if the request is made within six (6) days of the issuance of the Screening Decision.

Your right to appeal expires when you do not make a request for review in the allotted timeframe. You then shall be deemed to have waived the right to request a review by a Hearing Officer or request an extension of time for a review by a Hearing Officer. The Administrative Penalty shall then be deemed to be confirmed and shall not be subject to any further review, including review by any court.

Your rights, to request a review and an extension to request a review by a Hearing Officer, are exercised by giving the Municipality a written Request to Review form. The form must include the following information:

• The Penalty Notice Number.
• Your contact information.

If you submit a request for review by a Hearing Officer, the Hearing Officer shall schedule a Hearing and shall notify you of the format, time and place of the Hearing using the contact information included on the Request for Review form.

If you fail to appear at the time and place scheduled for a Hearing, or fail to provide any written submissions or requested documentation:

• You shall be deemed to have abandoned the request for review by a Hearing Officer.
• The Screening Decision and Administrative Penalty shall be deemed to be affirmed and will not be subject to review, including review by any Court.
• You shall pay to the Municipality a Hearing Non-Appearance Fee, Late Payment Fee, and any other applicable Administrative Fees(s).

Upon conclusion of a Hearing, the Hearing Officer shall:

• Confirm the Screening Decision; or
• Cancel, reduce or extend the time for payment for the Administrative Penalty and any associated administrative fees, on the following grounds if established by the Person on the balance of probabilities;
• You did not contravene the Designated By-law(s) as described in the Penalty Notice;
• The existence of Mitigating or Extenuating Circumstances; or
• The cancellation, reduction or extension of time for payment of the Administrative Penalty, including any Administrative Fee(s), is necessary to relieve any undue financial hardship.

The Hearing Officer shall issue a Hearing Decision to you following a Hearing. The decision of a Hearing Officer is final and is not subject to appeal.