A coalition of Ontario mayors is looking for Erin’s support … and its cash.
On May 22, councillors here had correspondence from the steering committee of the Mayor’s coalition for affordable, sustainable and accountable policing in Ontario. Along with a request for moral support, the group was asking for $1,000 for the town to join as a member of the group.
The resolution at council was to receive and file the request for $1,000 and information from the group.
The coalition is a consortium of municipalities of elected representatives seeking to address the need for a complete shift from current policy in order to cut the cost of service.
When councillors did not speak further on the matter, Mayor Lou Maieron said he wished to speak “only to let you know I was going to support this and maybe I can change people’s opinions … Maybe not.”
He said for decades at Wellington County council, the highest budget item was the roads budget. He suggested if the OPP contract costs had not yet surpassed that amount, “It definitely will have by the next budget.”
Maieron said Wellington has the largest OPP detachment in Ontario. “Those costs are put through the unions and the province and we have to absorb them … and we don’t have much of a say. So I can see where the concern is coming from.”
Maieron was ready to support the group and be more involved.
While the number of officers is decided locally, “the decisions regarding wages, their rank or how staff move through the system,” is outside of council control.
“We haven’t added that many police to Wellington County and its gone from the number three or four (in terms of spending) to number one.”
Councillor John Brennan said while he did not disagree with what the mayor had said, “my view was that this would be more properly dealt with at the county level.”
He said since it is the county paying the bill, it would make more sense to have a decision from that level.
Maieron said the letter was sent to lower tier mayors.
“I’m okay to file this, I just wanted you to know why I would support this because of the ever increasing costs.”
Brennan suggested Maieron might want to bring the issue to county council.
Maieron said “I don’t want to say costs are getting out of control, but they are very high.”
Council filed the information and the request.
