HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2001-01-31, Page 6STNS MINION SXroerron, January 31, 20001
More policing options sought
by Huron East council
By Scott Hlgendorff
Expositor Editor
After reviewing two
options for a new policing
contract, Huron East council
is seeking a price for a third
option that would see
Seaforth receive the same
drive-by policing now found
in the rural
areas of Huron
East.
While some
councillors
were ready to
choose one of
two other
options that
have already
been presented
by OPP or look
into a shared
contract with
Central Huron,
council
decided at its
Jan. 23 to postpone any
decision until more options
were explored for possible
savings.
The third contract price
council is now seeking is for
an option members of the
OPP contract branch of
policing refer to as "5.1"
policing.
This contract would reduce
the police presence in
Seaforth and see officers
responding to calls as they
occur with no dedicated
officers on regular patrols in
the municipality.
"Five point one is going to
generate public outcry right
from the start," said Coun.
Larry McGrath of
Tuckersmith Ward.
Seaforth's current contract
for policing has expired but
Huron OPP are continuing to
provide service as if the
contract exists until a new,
five-year contract has been
signed.
The former contract saw
Seaforth with four dedicated
officeis who patrol the town
20 hours a day.
"We're dealing with the
devil anyway," said McGrath
of the unlikelihood that any
contract is going to save the
municipality much money.
Coun. Joe Seili of Brussels
Ward expressed similar
sentiments regarding the fact
there is no one else offering
police service but the OPP.
Council is otherwise
dealing with tw.o main
options or looking at sharing
a contract with Central
Huron, if that municipality is
interested.
Option one is the "status
quo" which would see
Seaforth receive the same
level of enhanced service it
currently has from OPP while
the rural areas would
continue to receive drive-by
policing with officers
responding to calls in the area
as they occur.
Including the percentage of
time staff sergeants, sergeants
and detectives would be
required from the Huron OPP
detachment, under that
contract, the town would
receive the equivalent of
10.06 uniformed officers to
provide policing in Seaforth
and across Huron East.
It would cost $959,023 of
which $830,774 goes to
salaries and benefits.
Under option two,
"enhanced service," the town
would pay for 10.87 officers
providing an increased level
of policing across Huron East
at a cost of $1,033,162,
including $894,594 for
salaries and benefits.
In both options, the
Seaforth OPP office would
remain in use and, in any
option, Huron East will form
a new police services board
to direct policing priorities
and objectives in the
communities.
Coun. Bill DeJong of
Tuckersmith Ward said, "1
really believe, in the rural
area, status quo is adequate
service."
Charlie Williamson of the
OPP's contract policing
branch said, "If you opt for
option two, there will be
!wore police presence."
Option two provides the
equivalent of eight -tenths of
an officer, more than option
one.
Mayor Lin Steffler
questioned the need of that
extra portion of an officer for
the additional cost of an
enhanced -level contract. She
pointed out that traditionally,
there has been a rebate at the
end of each
contract year
because the
police have
never had to
provide
officers for
all the hours
they estimate
would be
needed in the
contract cost.
"Even when
Seaforth had
overtime,
there was still
a rebate," she
Quoted
'We're dealing
with the devil
anyway,'--
Coun. Larry McGrath
on the unlikelihood
that savings will be
mode by Huron East
on Its police contract.
said.
Overtime is estimated into
the costs provided for each of
the options.
Council was concerned
about which contracts would
ensure the municipality did
not have to pay for extra
service if, for example, there
was a murder investigation.
A major investigation
would require additional
officers and special units and
council was afraid, if the
wrong contract was picked,
Huron East would be billed
for the extra hours not in the
contract.
Williamson said of the
options council is
considering, only "5.1"
would see those costs billed
back to Huron East.
He also said the "status
quo" option would provide
adequate policing for the
community's needs.
In either contract, there
would typically be one to two,
officers available at a time
for all of Huron East.
Steffler suggested to
council it may not want to
enter a contract with Central
Huron for the money it would
save before they have tried
the contract on their own.
"Going into Central Huron,
you're going to lose a great
deal of control," she said.
There would be one police
services board representing
the two municipalities
whereas having a contract for
just Huron East would allow
the municipality to have its
own board to influence the
direction of policing.
Going with Central Huron
would see ,the two
municipalities sharing a
contract for $1,973,391 or
$986,695.50 for each
municipality.
After each year of the
contract, Huron East would
be able to renegotiate a
contract with Central Huron.
After more than an hour of
discussion with OPP and
among councillors, Seili
brought forward a motion
seeking a contract with
Central Huron in order to
help bring council to a
decision.
At the time, council had
been debating whether or not
it was ready to make a
decision or seek more
information.
Before a vote was sought,
Coun. Dick Burgess
reminded council if anyone
was uncomfortable making
the decision then, anyone
could ask to have the motion
tabled until a proper, five-day
notice of motion was made
which would bring it back to
council's next meeting.
"This is a very important
decision," he said.
He recommended they
proceed with three motions:
one is to approve entering a
contract for policing, another
to explore a contract with
Central Huron and a third to
decide on option one or two.
"I'm simply suggesting
these as a way to break down
complex decisions into
component parts," said
Burgess.
In regards to Central
Huron, Coun. Sharon
McClure of McKillop ward
asked, "What if they don't
want to come with us?"
Steffler said if they tabled
Seili's motion, they would
have more time to see what
Central Huron thought and
get the "5.1" information.
"Let's table it and move
on. We can't even seem to
get motions passed, let alone
decisions made," said Coun.
Joe Seili of Brussels Ward.
The motion was tabled.
Scott Hilgendorff photo
Author Sandra Orr sits at a table with her book Huron, Grand
Bend to Southampton and her novel Illusions with Pages
owner Jessica Parker at the Seaforth book store during a
meet -the -author day on Saturday.
Vehicle
scratched
while parked
in Hensall
at hockey
game
An undetermined amount
of damage was caused to a
vehicle after someone
scratched the hood and
driver's side of the vehicle
on Jan. 20.
The damage was done
while the vehicle was
parked at the Hensall and
District Community Centre
and its owner inside for a
hockey game.
The incident occurred
between 7:45 p.m. and
11:30 p.m.
trwtted to at end
these area duct hes
St. Thomas
Anglican Church
Jarvis St. Seaforth
482-7861
Sunday Service
at 9:30 am.
Bethel Bible Church
An Assodated Gospel Church
126 Main St. Seaforth
Sunday Worship Hour
11 am
Adventure Club for Kids &
Youth Groups
Wednesdays 7 D.M.
MINX
First Presbyterian
Church
Goderich St. W. Seaforth
Rev. Vandermey
WORSHIP SUNDAY
11:15 AM
Sunday School during Worship
' Cathol c hurch
Saturday - 5:15 pm
St. James Parish, Seaforth
Saturday • 7:15 pm •
St. Joseph's Parish, Clinton
Sunday - 9:00 am
St. Michael's Parish, Blyth
Sunday - 11:00 am
St. James Parish, Seaforth
Father Dino Salvador
Egmondville
United Church
Rev. Judith Spdngett
Sunday School
Grades 2 to 8 10 a.m.
Nursery to Grade 1 11 a.m.
NORTHSIDE - CAVAN
UNITED CHURCHES
Rev. Sheila Macgregor - Minister
SUNDAY, FEB. 4th Semton:'Setting out into deep water
Northside Annual Meeting and Lunch.
9:30 a.m. Cavan 11 a.m. Northside
Winthrop 54 Goderich St. W.
527-2635 or 527-140 •
NOTICE
For the eonvenienoe of our clients
SEAFORTH
VETERINARY CLINIC
will be open
RSDAY EVENINGS
by appointment only
Please call for appointments
519-527-1760
hlxifaer
FAure:0
Avniowwaln •
Allan Carter, Broker
• Home • Auto
• Commercial
• Farm
522,0399 Seaforth
1-800-265-0959 Strathroy
Announcement
Seaforth Manor announces the
appointment of Cathie Schalk as
Administrator and Charlene Foxton as
Retirement Home Director.
Cathie lives in Listowel with her
husband Wayne and three year old
daughter Jill. She has worked in Long
Term Care for 15 years and prior to
coming to Seaforth was at Queensway
in Hensall as the Administrator there.
Charlene is originally from Tuckersmith
Township from the Dayman family of
17. Charlene now lives in Hensall with
her husband Mike and three sons,
Mitchell, Jacob and Lucas. She went to
Nursing Assistant School in Wingham
and has been working at Seaforth
Manor as an RPN since 1991.
Come and meet both Cathie and
Charlene at an open house tea on
Thursday, February 8, 2001 from 2 4
p.m.
OPEN HOUSE TEA,
THURSDAY, FEB. 8, 2 - 4 pm
SEAFORTH MANOR
NURSING & RETIREMENT HOME
100 James St., Seaforth 527-0030
Bell Canada and the Economic
Development Council of Ontario,
congratulate
Huron Business Development Corporation
on their successful submission
to the
Bell Canada Economic Development
Fund 2000 grants ,
we are pleased to provide
support for the
Live Internet CaII Centre Business
Feasibility project
The Bell Economic Development Fund
is a three year $800,000 program
to promote telecommunications
as an economic enabler,
an employment generator,
and a wealth creator for communities
in the province of Ontario
Another community project
sponsored by
C
Bmf/
www.bell.ca