Grey Highlands council is going to investigate the possibility of bringing back its own local police services board, for the time being.
At its meeting on June 19, council passed a resolution asking municipal staff to investigate the possibility of the former Grey Highlands Police Services Board continuing to meet until the newly created multi-municipal police board is up and running.
At the meeting council received a staff report that explained that there are delays in getting the new board in place. The provincial government recently mandated the creation of a Grey Bruce Joint Detachment Board, which would replace the former local municipal boards.
The province recently adopted the new Community Safety and Policing Act that replaced the old Police Services Act. The new act brings with it a new police board structure.
A joint board consisting of municipal representatives from Georgian Bluffs, Chatsworth, Meaford, Grey Highlands, Southgate, South Bruce Peninsula, Northern Bruce Peninsula, Saugeen First Nation and Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation (Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation) along with public appointees and provincial appointees is being formed.
However, a requirement for the new board to have liability insurance has led to delays in getting the board in place and holding regular meetings. The province has mandated the new board have insurance, but the insurance industry has baulked at providing the coverage. In addition, the province has not yet named the provincial appointees to the board.
Mayor Paul McQueen raised the issue at the council table and said he is concerned that in the absence of the new board holding meetings there will be a lack of reporting from the OPP detachment to local municipalities about policing activities, initiatives and issues.
“It’s a long period of time. There is a disconnect,” said McQueen, who asked if staff could investigate having the former local Police Services Board hold meetings until the new joint board is in place. “Do we have the ability to continue with the Grey Highlands board?”
Clerk Amanda Fines-VanAlstine said the former board has not been disbanded at this point, but said it had been established under the old act that has been repealed. She said staff would have to research the possibility of the previous board continuing to meet.
“I am unclear on how that would operate,” said Fines-VanAlstine, who suggested that council request that the OPP report directly to council while the new joint board is being formed.
Council unanimously passed a resolution asking staff to look into the legality of the previous board meeting while the new board is formed. The resolution also requested that the OPP be invited to report directly to council during the interim.
