"I feel safe construction in this community is an issue," said Councillor Vince Sharpe on Monday night, citing two-storey buildings erected in town whose second-storey doors did not have a staircase running to them that were still given occupancy permits.

"Contractors are running wild in this town," he said.

Inspections are currently split between municipal and territorial representatives, who check new buildings for everything from fire code and plumbing to whether they are built to the specifications on the plans.

Most of the municipal responsibilities have been farmed out and the town is reluctant to get back in the business, as Councillor Dan Davis noted.

"I don't think the town should dive headlong back into this and pay someone $50,000 a year to do this," he said. "We can't afford it right now."

Several members of council, though, said regulations in town needed to be tightened up, especially for the smaller projects such as renovation permits whose value is underestimated to lower the cost of the permit, or for the movement of trailers, the permits for which are often ignored.

The town's bylaw officer will be asked to keep a closer watch on such activity, as will members of council, who asked for a regular list of permits issued so they could keep track of activity around town.

"Where we've fallen down is people are moving trailers or starting constructions without getting the permit," said Mayor George Roach.