Port Moody council has tasked the city's heritage groups with finding way to preserve the buildings on the Ioco townsite but that wasn't enough for the president of the heritage society.
In a letter sent to council after Tuesday's meeting, Robert Simons said he was "dismayed that no specific direction was given to have the city engage more forcefully with the property owners to have them meet the conditions" of the bylaw that stipulates maintenance responsibilities for the Ioco site.
The bylaw was adopted in July 2002, when Ioco was designated as a heritage conservation area (HCA). The bylaw stipulates that the property owner is responsible for maintaining the property - the site includes four community buildings and 13 residential buildings - to prevent damage from the elements and to ensure buildings are in good repair.
"It is clear from physical evidence at three principal heritage buildings - Ioco School, Ioco Community Hall and Ioco Community Store - that the standards of maintenance... have not been complied with," Simons wrote, adding the same likely also applies to the residential buildings.
And while Simons commended council for engaging the heritage commission and the Port Moody Heritage Society, he said the city also needs to "have the property owners obey Bylaw 2490... as continued discussion without action will not stop the continued decay of these heritage properties."
A staff report detailed the maintenance Devon Estates, the real estate arm of Imperial Oil, had undertaken to date, which consisted mainly of placing tarps over the roofs. When crews attempted to stabilize and waterproof two buildings in summer 2011, the costs skyrocketed due to hazardous materials remediation, structural upgrades and the need for total roof replacements.
In June 2012, Imperial Oil submitted an alternative stabilization strategy to the city; a year later it completed "extensive tarping work" on 10 buildings, which continues to be monitored.
Simons and Jim Millar, the Port Moody Museum's executive director, said more needs to be done, noting roofs are decomposing and the buildings have fallen into significant disrepair.
"We should all take our due diligence to protect and maintain this heritage," Simons said.
The Port Moody Heritage Society board will be meeting on Dec. 17 to begin formulating a plan, Millar added.
