Cobourg 4, OPP 3

I was not at the meeting last night, (unloading a corvette in downtown Toronto). But a couple of emails explained the events at Council last night. Apparently the audience was a little one, "A sparce contingent attended the meeting, half dozen police and staff, the whole PSB, Hamilton Twnsp Lovshin and Woods, Port Hope Jeff Lees and 3 or 4 unknowns." - emailer A

snippet from emailer B

"Frost made the motion to approve transfer of policing powers to the county. He spoke first and indicated that his ultimate intention was to do what it takes to save money for the taxpayer - he supported the motion saying he had not received a mandate from the public to turn down the opportunity to save 1.9 million a year. The results of the web survey were not released for reasons I could not make out ( Stan mumbles too much - at one point he was asked to speak up)

Brocanier supported the motion spitting out more of his funny numbers and odd calculations - as evidenced by some snickers in the gallery. His approach seemed rather simplistic and may I say shallow.

Mutton spoke at great length and made some interesting observations, reaching far deeper into the issue than Mr. Broc.

Spooner did his dance awkwardly stepping on both sides of the fence but landing on the no side, rejecting the motion.

McCaughey said very little, 45 seconds worth and voted against the motion

McDonald said less but explained that he had to support the local police because that's what he promised in his election platform.

Delanty made a passioned plea to support the 2 million a year savings, which he would suggest "banking" for use in building the 20 million rec centre (banking - as in keeping to spend in other ways rather than reducing taxes - a true conman)"

But the puzzler concerned the online vote, one emailer stated that a sheet of results were handed out:

For the CPS 296
Against the CPS 137

A resounding No to the resolution. Stan Frost was last quoted saying he was waiting to see the results of "direct democracy". He will now have to explain why he thought that the vote was "erroneous".

So what now? The County will take note, Delanty will vote yes at the County, in direct conflict with his Council, Port Hope will vote on the issue soon and Brighton will either support or defy the wishes of its PSB and Hamilton Township will be a puzzle until the vote. Whispers are getting louder about a No vote coming from Camborne. And, why were the Mayor and the Chair of the Township's PSB at our meeting? Answers to come later - stay tuned!

The Northumberland News has already written a story here

The essence of the debate

In a letter to the CDS a taxpayer writes in to support the OPP taking over. Retired Cobourg Detachment Commander Terry McDermott writes and I quote, "Another question was raised about maintaining a four minute response and there is no reason why a reasonable response time will not be maintained. We must consider that not all incidents that officers are despatched to need the same level of response......."

If we have a four minute response now and the retired detachment commander talks about that level of service not being maintained, because not all calls need a quick response, then it must be true that he is saying that the same level of response we have now will not be maintained. Perhaps the four minute response is overkill but that's what we have now. Not to get it from the OPP is a lower level of service!!

Let's have the Cobourg Police cost a lower level of service and see if the savings are still there.

You want a fountain - this is a fountain

The Khaleej Times reports here:
Emaar Properties has unveiled a world-class permanent water fountain with an integral light and sound show in Downtown Burj Dubai. This new iconic feature is set to be a global water-engineering marvel and will be one of the city's major tourist attractions, expected to draw over 10 million visitors annually.

Here's what the Council will be voting on

This is a strange one. Normally each proposed resolution in the agendas come with their individual recommendations. Not this one: it sits there like a deflated soufflé that is almost ashamed to be on the plate.

So what comes next? Each and every member of Council will have to say something, after all the voters want to hear what each other has to say. The public has been heard from and the the first member to speak in support will obviously mention that those who spoke at the public meeting were not representative of the public and nobody cares because only a hundred people came out. After all 2500 signed the Frink petition demonstrating real participation.

But the big impact will be the effect of the PSB's presentation outlining their opposition to it. Who will have the courage to diss a 164 year old institution?

Early betting has the resolution failing 4 to 3, but anything can change, there is a member of Council that is an habitual vote switcher who swings according the last opinion held and he can be got at by the Mayor. Expect a lot of pressure from the Mayor's office on this one.

Maybe this thing isn't a slam dunk after all!

The PSB of Brighton has unanimously opposed the County Policing Plan. Makes for an interesting discussion at Brighton Council. Local board (Brighton) says no to county police plan

Nothing like a hanging to focus the concentration. The local control is going to be the 800lb gorilla in this argument. When one looks at the composition of the County PSB, there will only be ONE citizen from the whole County. The others will be politicians (2) Provincial appointees (2) and the lone County citizen. No wonder the the PSB of Brighton feel beleaguered and ignored.

Note to Brocanier

Hey Gil, read this and then tell us we are spending money wisely. Cities use pricey perks to lure doctors. I have always thought that using municipal money on health care is a total diversion and waste of real tax money. This story about the escalation of incentives just proves to me that the Province has to step in and stop this nonsense.

Too good to be true

"If somebody offered you exactly the same service for 36% less why wouldn't you take it?" Very good question, one riddled with incredulity perhaps? We have been warned for years that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Millions of seniors have been swindled and scammed with the same logic. But in this case what makes it worse is that it is the government offering this. "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you!" - the third lie in the trilogy of "the cheque's in the mail".

The question in the first para was asked by one of the two people who spoke in favour of the motion - shall we switch to the OPP. The other twenty odd speakers all spoke against the idea. For various reasons but mainly because of the fear of the unknown level of service that will replace the Cobourg Police Service. Most of the speakers either spoke from experience or quoted the experience of others and were not complimentary to the OPP level of service. Even Inspector Borton the Northumberland detachment Commander chose his words carefully and didn't commit to anything other than all complaints will be answered. The dispatchers spoke about the lack of local knowledge the OPP communications possess and question whether it would improve.

A fruitful meeting

The bravest man at the meeting

Cobourg's Chief of Police took the mike last night and laid out the way he saw things about the County's policing study. Speaking publicly, especially when it is criticism of a Mayor's pet project is usually a CLM (career limiting move) but in this case his remarks were needed to be part of the public record. The audience appreciated it and the community should applaud his courage.

Chief Sweet took to the microphone after many others gave Council their views about local policing. He pointed out that not only was the general public excluded from specific consultation, he and the local polices services were excluded in contravention of a Provincial protocol. This protocol, ironically had been designed with the help of Chief Sweet, was ignored by the consultant who went off in his own direction. Chief Sweet further alleges that the consultant wrote his report including incomplete and inaccurate information. The end result is that the consultant's report is flawed and cannot be relied on. How much weight his comments will have remain to be seen but a fuller presentation will be made on June 16 when he and the Chair of the Police Services Board will speak before Council.

Note: a fuller report about last night's meeting will be posted later.

At last the DBIA has woken up or has the Chair's political ambitions ballooned? At a Council meeting the Chair of the DB1A, and rumoured candidate for the next elections Sue Dingsdale-Glover asked for a referral of the decision that Council is set to make - the expansion of the Walmart store.

Leaving aside the contradiction that Downtown is striving to be unique and a ''niche destination'' as well as trying to attract mainstream stores (a food store would be nice). Let's look at the bargain Walmart struck last time with the DBIA. A three year payout to the DBIA of $60,000 and a sign that acknowledges the presence of Downtown on the Walmart property. Both would appear to be failures in execution. The payout was not on time and the sign is too small and insignificant to have a bearing on traffic direction.

But the biggest failure this time around is to point out the shaky premise of the application. As all geeks know the justification for expansion is based on a ''Market study", This study is supposed to prove the need that the Town can handle additional commercial capacity and will not lead to the demise of existing businesses, this is an OP requirement. Last time around it was acknowledged, at an OMB hearing no less, that the Town's commercial capacity was maxed out, Now several years later, with little additional population growth, and a depressed business climate and presence, what has happened to create commercial capacity that can sustain the addition of an extra 60,000 square feet of commercial space? Where is the demonstrable need that can sustain another 60,000 sf?

This question has been ignored and obfuscated by the Town Planner (just tell me what to do and ! can dress it up) Glenn McGlashon. In a report to Council he sees the Market Study (written by one firm and peer reviewed by Walmart’s in house planner) as meeting the intent of the OP, l guess all the keen OP watchers have been worn down and can't a: bothered to point out the obvious this time. Pity.

Who says the young are wastrels?

Read this and rejoice. The young people at St Mary's are at least doing something - standing up for what they think is important today. Cobourg students rally for Khadr