COLLINGWOOD - Councillors could decide as early as next week whether Wilbur the pig will be given temporary resident status within the town boundaries.

Councillor Keith Hull had put forward a notice of motion last week to grant Warren Pascoe's family permission to keep the potbellied pig, after councillors turned down an amendment to the municipality's animal control bylaw that would allow people to keep the breed as a pet.

Hull had to withdraw that motion as procedurally, council couldn't 'grandfather' - essentially approve a pre-existing, non-conforming situation - the family's ownership of the pig because the animal control bylaw pre-dated Wilbur's arrival by about 27 years.

Instead, Councillor Ian Chadwick put forward a notice of motion on Monday night to allow Pascoe to keep the pig until a suitable home could be found.

The family acquired the animal after Wilbur's original family living in Toronto was forced to give him up because city bylaws prevent residents from keeping potbellied pigs as pets.

He was also evicted from his second home in Collingwood, after that family's landlord said no to them keeping a pig. Pascoe took in Wilbur - who's about the size of a medium-sized dog, and house-trained - as a temporary solution; however, the family had grown quite attached to the animal.

Pascoe petitioned council in March to allow change the municipality's bylaw, after a neighbour alerted the town's bylaw department to Wilbur's existence.

In other council news from Monday night:

- Canada's iconic Snowbirds will be soaring over Collingwood in June as Canadian Forces Base Borden hosts its annual Canadian Forces Day and Air Show.

Councillors gave the Snowbirds - along with the Royal Canadian Airforce CF-18 Demo Team and Vintage Wings of Canada F-86 Sabre Discovery Air Hawk - to fly below the 1,000-foot altitude ceiling. The air show happens from June 8 through 11.

Under federal aeronautics law, planes generally aren't allowed to fly over a populated area under an altitude of 1,000 feet.

- Council gave the OK to official plan and zoning amendments to permit Admiral's Village to go ahead.

Admiral's Village is the eastern half of the former Admiral Collingwood site, and the intent is to build a commercial and residential project; the residential component would be a retirement facility.

The building would somewhat mirror the Admiral Collingwood Place project proposed for the west half of the property, with a four-storey building that would curve around the corner at Hume and St. Marie.

A public meeting on proposed amendments to the official plan and zoning bylaw for the entire site was held in October. In February, council passed amendments to the Collingwood Downtown Heritage Conservation District Plan that would allow both projects to move ahead; Simcoe County council gave their blessing to the zoning changes for Admiral Collingwood Place last month.

- Centennial Pool will be getting nearly $50,000 in upgrades at the conclusion of this summer's swimming season.

Councillors approved a bid by PPL Aquatic Fitness and Spa Group to undertake upgrades to the recirculation and filtration system. The work includes replacing the recirculation pump to increase flow rate, as well as an upgrade of the sand filter to accommodate the increased flow.

According to the report from Parks, Recreation and Culture director Marta Proctor, additional piping modifications and instrumentation will be needed to provide a fully-updated operational system.

The 45-year-old outdoor pool underwent a significant upgrade two years ago, during which repairs were made to underground piping, and the pool deck and fencing were replaced.

The work will be done in the fall.

- ian.adams@sunmedia.ca

- Twitter: @Scoop_68