When will Cobourg debate the local policing issue?
Cobourg was promised a local debate, and it was scheduled for the 19th of November, but the CAO admitted that his figures would not be ready by that time and therefore a debate could not take place. It has now been rescheduled for a date that is yet to be determined. Unfortunately that puts the discussion into the time frame of the County, where they want the issue wrapped up by February at the latest. Conspiracy theorists will now speculate that Cobourg is going along with that time frame because they don't want to fight the issue and when it happens they, the Council, can claim that the "County did them in"
But how about this you folks on Council - have a vigorous discussion of the issue right now and make a definitive statement: Yes or No to the idea of OPP policing in Cobourg. Then let the County deal with that.
I fear that the County will feel embarrassed about imposing the OPP on Cobourg and Port Hope and want to do it as quietly as possible. Apart from Bill "Emperor" Pyatt and Hector "King of Northumberland" MacMillan, I can't see any other rube sticking their heads over the parapet on this one, just to stick it to Cobourg, although Bill Finlay loves to hate Cobourg. So the bigger the fuss Cobourg makes over this issue the harder it will be for the County to win the war of words.
Just to kick off the debate I have arranged to be on the agenda on Monday evening to talk about the "lessons learned from the County's presentations". This presentation falls into the "Why do I bother?" and I have mixed feelings about it. But I think it is absolutely essential that this issue be debated and disposed of in the most raucous fashion - lots of noise and thunder after all it's a major local cultural institution that will be disappearing. We had constables on the streets before we had councillors in the desks. Cobourg was founded as a Police Village, not a Mayor's gathering!
But how about this you folks on Council - have a vigorous discussion of the issue right now and make a definitive statement: Yes or No to the idea of OPP policing in Cobourg. Then let the County deal with that.
I fear that the County will feel embarrassed about imposing the OPP on Cobourg and Port Hope and want to do it as quietly as possible. Apart from Bill "Emperor" Pyatt and Hector "King of Northumberland" MacMillan, I can't see any other rube sticking their heads over the parapet on this one, just to stick it to Cobourg, although Bill Finlay loves to hate Cobourg. So the bigger the fuss Cobourg makes over this issue the harder it will be for the County to win the war of words.
Just to kick off the debate I have arranged to be on the agenda on Monday evening to talk about the "lessons learned from the County's presentations". This presentation falls into the "Why do I bother?" and I have mixed feelings about it. But I think it is absolutely essential that this issue be debated and disposed of in the most raucous fashion - lots of noise and thunder after all it's a major local cultural institution that will be disappearing. We had constables on the streets before we had councillors in the desks. Cobourg was founded as a Police Village, not a Mayor's gathering!
2 comments:
If Cobourg and Port Hope lose the debate on policing and we end up with the OPP as our police force we can put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the two town councils, past and present The two have been fighting for years to keep control of their own little Kingdom, Empire or Dynasty. It may be too late, but the effort should be made to put aside their petty little differences and form ONE police force to service both towns. One Chief, one admin, and a squad for each town. If the issue is cost then I think this might be the way to go. But, its hard to believe cost is an issue when most of Cobourg council want to spent $$$$ on the Frink that almost nobody else wants.
DL
Do you want a cheering section at Council Monday night?
There's something odd about rallying to support the forces of law and order, but in this case I will make an exception!
Power to the People and all that!
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