South Frontenac exercises only option available to it

Obscenely high and unsustainable policing costs. OPP bills are destroying communities its officers are supposed to protect. Apparent self-interest is cloaked in the guise of public safety needs. Where is the political outrage while OPP costs continue to climb? Who is going to bring policing costs in this province under control?

South Frontenac exercises only option available to it

Postby Thomas » Tue Jan 27, 2015 3:03 am

South Frontenac exercises only option available to it opting for 5-year OPP contract

South Frontenac Council authorized a five-year contract with the Ontario Provincial Police for police services in the Township at its regular meeting last week in Sydenham.

However, as CAO/Clerk Wayne Orr pointed out, there was very little to be discussed as the OPP dictates almost all aspects of the contract, whether the Township agrees with the terms or not.

It’s something every municipality in Ontario will have to deal with this year. The Municipal Act dictates that municipalities must provide policing and unless they’re in a position to create their own police force, their only option is the OPP, and the OPP isn’t willing to talk about pricing or staffing levels.

“The Province is now prepared to enter negotiations for policing contracts,” Orr said. “And I use the term loosely because there are no ‘negotiations.’

“It’s a ‘if it’s not acceptable, we’ll move it for you’ (and) the only thing that’s negotiable is a three-, four-, five- or six-year contract.”

Orr said that every year, the OPP will provide Council with a new cost, which the Township will have to pay with little or no recourse.

“It used to be you’d have a staff sergeant, a sergeant, constables . . .,” he said. “Now they only provide ‘the necessary police services.’”

“So, we’ll have no say other than to have a police services board that has a say in hiring the detachment commander,” said Mayor Ron Vandewal.

Vandewal then asked if staff had a recommendation as to the length of contract and Orr replied: “no.”

Some councilors did have thoughts on the length of the contract however.

“I think it’s important we have a Police Services Board,” said Coun. Mark Schjerning. “I’d support a five-year contract.”

“We’re elected for four years (so) I’d support a four-year contract,” said Coun. Norm Roberts.

A motion for a five-year contract passed in a 6-3 recorded vote. Coun. Roberts, John McDougall and Bill Robinson voted against the proposal.

In a “Contract Policing Proposal” for the Township of South Frontenac, A/Sgt. Gilbert Cadieux said: “Based on, among other things, an estimate of salary and benefit costs, the policing cost of 2015 associated with this proposal is $2,902,091.”

Based on base service, calls for service, overtime, court security, prisoner transportation, accommodation and cleaning services, that works out to $288.11 per property (10,073 properties of which 9,829 are households and 244 are commercial and/or industrial.)

That does not include the costs of maintaining a police services board, any costs associated with establishing and maintaining community policing offices or any applicable revenues accruing to the municipality as a result of police activity.

Fees for subsequent years of the contract could be subject to increases, which would be capped at $40 per property for each subsequent year.

http://www.kingstonregion.com/news-stor ... -contract/
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