Wellington North council approved changes to the Municipal Alcohol Policy at its meeting Oct. 20 that will require all outdoor events issued a special occasions permit to hire security after 9pm.
Previously there had been no provision for outdoor events within the policy.
“What we’re asking for is basically, any event with a liquor license – the parties have to apply for a permit and upon completion of that, they have to hire security from 9pm until closing,” said director of recreation Barry Lavers.
The decision to make changes came after an incident at an outdoor event held in Arthur at the pavilion this past summer, where municipal staff did not feel safe or in control of the situation at hand. It was thought additional security at future events might alleviate the problem.
He noted many event organizers are already hiring their own security.
“We had three outdoor events of this type and two of the three brought their own security in, the third one was obviously the one we had some issues at,” Lavers said.
“Two of the three were service clubs and I think they have security anyway, so this is a protection for those type of events that we don’t have protection for.”
Councillor Andy Lennox was concerned the additional cost of required security might impede future events and make them unaffordable.
“I consider these types of events community building and adding an extra cost to them is potentially an impediment to them. Is there a way that we could solve this without adding a cost to those functions?” he asked. “Have you had any communication with the affected groups?”
Lavers said he had not.
“I have not had communications with these groups,” he said. “[But] to protect staff and to protect the people having these type of events, this is probably a good thing for them as well.”
Mayor Ray Tout said if the groups end up having to hire additional staff to supervise such events, there would be an additional cost incurred regardless.
“The event organizers themselves were not overly helpful at the time of problems going on, but I understand where you’re coming from. It does cost to hire security and it cuts into the profits, but either way we have to hire more staff or more security,” Tout said.
“Maybe we need to talk to these people and put our heads together and say is there a way we can solve this without adding more cost to it,” Lennox responded.
The report also suggested the option of having the site facility manager on standby so they can be notified during the event if an incident were to occur.
“I’m glad to see that we’ve made this change, where if a staff member has an issue or can’t get satisfaction with that issue that they are to call the appropriate facility manager – I think that’s a better chain of communication and then the facility manager can lead the way as to where to go from there,” said councillor Dan Yake.
Tout agreed that it is important for staff to feel like they have someone they can turn to in such situations.
“It’s all about having a support system for the staff member,” he said. “One sober staff member against 200 patrons is a little tough at two o’clock in the morning.”
Councillor Sherry Burke suggested Lavers also be available to provide assistance in case the facility manager cannot be reached.
“In the off chance they can’t get hold of somebody the chain should include Barry. We’ve talked about the facility manager stepping up and taking more responsibility and I think the director of recreation should be listed in there too,” she said.
“I don’t want our staff to feel like they’re being left out in the cold when they need someone to talk to.”
Yake said he was concerned that if Lavers were added to the list, it would take away from the facility manager’s obligation to respond first.
“I agree there needs to be a chain of command and that’s what’s been lacking here for a long time,” he said. “But the facility manager needs to be available. The last thing I ever want to hear is that a facility manager was at home and not answering his phone and the call went straight to Barry.”
Lennox wondered whether they should defer the motion until they have had a chance to discuss the chain of command more thoroughly.
Lavers responded that because these events are relatively few, he didn’t think further discussion was necessary.
“We don’t have a lot of these outdoor events and obviously they only go through the summer so it will be looked after,” he said.
Lennox wondered if the same rules should be applied to indoor events as well.
“It already is there for other events,” Tout pointed out. “In a nutshell, this is saying they have to have security at an outdoor event.”
The motion was moved by councillor Burke and seconded by councillor Yake to amend the current Municipal Alcohol Policy to require security after 9pm and instruct staff to first contact the facility manager in the case of an incident and then the director of recreation if this is unsuccessful.
The motion was passed with all in favour.
