At its meeting on Wednesday, April 17, Northumberland County Council received an update from consultants on their review of police services in the area.
As I noted in an earlier story, Ontario has recently changed oversight of police forces and the Trent Hills police board has been replaced by one that represents municipalities in the county that contract services from the Ontario Provincial Police.
Last fall, the county awarded StrategyCorp. a $75,000 contract to take stock of the current services provided, assess future cost drivers as the population grows, and analyze the options available for policing.
Sabine Matheson of StrategyCorp. told council the report, which should be done later this year, will examine four options:
1) Status Quo – Maintain the current state with Cobourg and Port Hope having their own services and the OPP handling other municipalities.
2) Amalgamation – Create a new consolidated service for some or all of Northumberland.
3) External Option – Hire a neighbouring police service (e.g., Durham, Peterborough) or the OPP to provide services for the entire county.
4) Other potential opportunities that represent the best option for policing in Northumberland.
In an interview on CBC Radio’s Ontario Morning program, Warden Brian Ostrander, who is Mayor of Brighton, said the review will help council determine “whether it makes sense to amalgamate or not.”
“At council’s direction, this review will encompass a thorough evaluation of current policing service levels, operational costs, and revenue streams,” said Jennifer Moore, the county’s Chief Administrative Officer. “The goal is to obtain recommendations for future service delivery, considering options ranging from maintaining existing service structures to exploring a combined model.”
Matheson said that after the preliminary report is completed the county could decide on a second phase that would have StrategyCorp. hold public consultations on preferred options; provide a full cost review; and undertake discussions with the three police service providers about possible changes.
You can read more about the review and leave comments at the county’s Join In Northumberland website here.
County seeks more money for the homeless
A day after I wrote about the county-owned home for the homeless that sits empty while discussions continue to find a group to operate the building, county council passed a resolution asking the province to increase its funding for such operating costs.
The resolution thanked the province for $2.5 million it provided that has helped it buy 310 Division St. in Port Hope to expand services in that community.
But it said, “Northumberland County Council hereby calls upon the Province of Ontario to increase ongoing operating funding for housing, shelters, and other necessary social services to ensure adequate levels of service to meet the needs of our residents.”