Why we need strong statements from whomever
The way the policing debate is unfolding is disturbing. The topic of the county report is tentatively scheduled to be discussed by the Council's executive committee on June 16. Presumably a public meeting will take place before that and then Council will vote the week after June 16.
But is that enough public consultation? I think not. There are a few outstanding questions that have to be clear in the public' mind before a decision can be made. Primarily how much will we save or will it cost us? The County says severances, for example, will only be about $10,000. But how do you get 15 dispatchers into 5 keyboarding jobs, without severance? How do you compensate the senior officers for rebadging and reranking without a pension liability and loss of future wages? And more importantly how do we guarantee the existing level of service when other municipalities policed by the OPP are facing officer shortages. And, how do we enshrine the promised rebates in a contract when the OPP is willing to abrogate existing OPP contracts in other municipalities - just ask the Mayor of Norfolk what he thinks about a 14% increase to his police budgets because the OPP has taken away a rebate programme.
Add in the concerns of Councillor Frost who says, amongst other things, that the report is not factual in places (remember this was a huge criticism of all of Mr Watkins previous reports - he makes stuff up) and we need a public meeting to determine the actual cost. You cannot expect thoughtful people who look at these things to accept statements from politicians, especially those on the present Cobourg Council, who have a huge credibility gap to overcome today in all of their dealings with the public.
So it is incumbent on the Chief of Police and the Police Services Board to deliver their opinion on the matter, and then we, the public, should have an opinion and then a vote must be taken. Time is running out - get on with it.
But is that enough public consultation? I think not. There are a few outstanding questions that have to be clear in the public' mind before a decision can be made. Primarily how much will we save or will it cost us? The County says severances, for example, will only be about $10,000. But how do you get 15 dispatchers into 5 keyboarding jobs, without severance? How do you compensate the senior officers for rebadging and reranking without a pension liability and loss of future wages? And more importantly how do we guarantee the existing level of service when other municipalities policed by the OPP are facing officer shortages. And, how do we enshrine the promised rebates in a contract when the OPP is willing to abrogate existing OPP contracts in other municipalities - just ask the Mayor of Norfolk what he thinks about a 14% increase to his police budgets because the OPP has taken away a rebate programme.
Add in the concerns of Councillor Frost who says, amongst other things, that the report is not factual in places (remember this was a huge criticism of all of Mr Watkins previous reports - he makes stuff up) and we need a public meeting to determine the actual cost. You cannot expect thoughtful people who look at these things to accept statements from politicians, especially those on the present Cobourg Council, who have a huge credibility gap to overcome today in all of their dealings with the public.
So it is incumbent on the Chief of Police and the Police Services Board to deliver their opinion on the matter, and then we, the public, should have an opinion and then a vote must be taken. Time is running out - get on with it.
2 comments:
"...how do you get 15 dispatchers into 5 keyboarding jobs..."
One dispatcher works 8 hours per day. It takes 3 dispatchers for a 24 hour cycle. Hence 5 keyboarders per 24/7.
What am I missing?
That's good Wally and true but we don't mention Port Hope's dispatchers and the OPP only talks about five, not 5 24/7
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