To the editor,
At the Dec. 21, 2021, West Grey council meeting, Coun. Rebecca Hergert moved a notice of motion on the agenda to formally request OPP costing to provide police services in West Grey. This motion was seconded by Coun. Stephen Townsend.
After a debate where all council members weighed in on the discussion, a recorded vote was called by the mayor. The motion was carried on a 4-3 vote. There were four members of council in favour of OPP costing: Hergert, Townsend, Coun. Beth Hamilton and Coun. Geoffrey Shea. There were three members of council opposed to the OPP costing: Coun. Doug Hutchinson, Deputy Mayor Tom Hutchinson and Mayor Christine Robinson.
Some of our council members are definitely sending out mixed messages. Why hasn’t council asked the public how they feel? $80,000 has since been allotted to hire a consultant to review the information. This is not responsible spending, when clearly it is going to cost West Grey taxpayers much more than this!
It has been stated that the cost of West Grey Police Service (WGPS) is one-third of the municipal budget. In the 2021 West Grey budget presentation, the total expenditures by department lists the costs of West Grey Police to be 19 per cent. Clearly, 19 per cent does not reflect one-third of the budget as has been suggested by some councillors. What may be happening is that the capital cost of infrastructure (the new building) is being rolled in with the operational costs, therefore making it look like the cost of police is higher than it is. Are they suggesting that the cost went from 19 per cent of the budget to 30 per cent of the budget? Doesn’t that seem like a bit of a stretch?
When looking at the tax levy allocation by department (this can be found on the West Grey municipal website) you can see that the WGPS increase to the tax levy has been only 1.9 per cent in the last six years. By comparison, council and administrative costs have grown by 2.8 per cent during the same time frame. Between 2016-2020 the WGPS came in under budget every year and was able to return over $600,000 to reserves, which allows them to cover any unexpected costs and not have to go over budget at any point. This demonstrates a commitment to fiscal responsibility on behalf of the service.
One of the concerns regarding the OPP option is that they use an online reporting tool where you go to “report minor occurrences such as theft, mischief to property, lost property and driving complaints that occurred in areas policed by the OPP. This system allows you to submit a report from your computer or mobile device without going to an OPP detachment. All submissions will be sent directly to the OPP and reviewed by an officer. You may be contacted to provide more information, according to opp.ca. With WGPS you will always have personal contact from an officer when you are requesting the police.
We encourage you to take some time to gather information about other locations who have recently changed to OPP and are experiencing unexpected cost increases, the need for security companies to cover areas that are no longer being manned, additional costs related to upgrading or building new police stations for OPP and cost of severances to existing officers. The cost of the disbandment of the WGPS includes payouts, jobs loss, police equipment, cars and the money we already put towards the new build and land purchase for which engineering has been hired.
Another point of interest that has been discussed is that all municipal police services have service at no cost from OPP, it’s provincially mandated and it’s an agreement that is in place. OPP costs are increasing, and they are providing less proactive policing in the province. Our municipal police service provides community-based policing and education to the community they serve. Our West Grey police perform door-to-door checks, they participate in fundraisers, patrol our schools, and they are families living in our communities.
There are many paper petitions at businesses in the communities of Durham and Ayton for you to sign to express your opposition to gathering OPP costing and request that council listens to the constituents that elected them to their positions on council, and that they rescind this notice of motion with no further delay.
For anyone who is unable to attend a business to sign, there is also an online petition that can be found on change.org under “Save our West Grey Police Service.”
If you need any help accessing a petition, please email us at wgpspetition@gmail.com.
Please continue to make your voices heard by signing petitions, emailing council and spreading the word to help save the West Grey Police Service!
Committee to Save West Grey Police
