The Council of the Township of Whitewater Region heard a motion to whether it would join an OPP detachment board, with the options being:
Participate in and support a Renfrew OPP Detachment Board with a composition of 11 members as follows:
1 Council representative from each municipality;
2 community appointees:
1 resident of either Arnprior, Greater Madawaska, or McNab/Braeside; and
1 resident of either Admaston/Bromley, Horton, Renfrew, or Whitewater Region; and
2 provincial appointees.
Decline to participate in an Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment Board on the understanding that this would not impact the Township of Whitewater Region’s police services, information sharing, and engagement on policing matters.
Call on the Province of Ontario to examine detachment boundaries and service areas to ensure continued adequate policing and to address governance, specifically for municipalities serviced by two detachments, such as Whitewater Region, Admaston/Bromley and North Algona Wilberforce.
Direct the CAO to provide a copy of the Township’s position to other municipalities in the Renfrew and Upper Ottawa Valley detachment areas for submission to the Province.
CAO Trembley said that their was already a ‘dynamic of collaboration on the municipalities on each side’.
He said that it was an opportunity for the government to “look at some of the old boundaries” regarding policies.
“This is our best, and shouldn’t impact services, but should provide communications with the detachment commander and provide any information from us to the detachment commander..” he said.
“I certainly understand the recommendation the report is coming from for going with Renfrew, but it’s hard to tell which board gets more calls. “The Mayor said. “We do not want to have two boards, we will have to pay with both. This is something we have to deal with among the three municipalities around us. It’ll be interesting to see how it goes, but I don’t see it ending then. SOme of us aren’t going without dragging our feet.”
“We don’t impact a whole lot of decision making.” Councillor Olmstead said, regarding his own involvement in similar boards.. “We have never really had any impact or voting privileges for any issues or any impact on any services or coverage or what have you. I see there’s four options, and I see one is decline representation. What I wanna ask is what does representation mean for us?”
CAO Tremblay suggested that declining representation on both boards was “not recommended.” and said it would lead to better communication. “This will really be a formalized process. They changed the legislation with the police board saying one per region. We’re not really interested in being in two places. It’s an opportunity to engage the commander in issues and get the stats, and talk about the billing. Not all of us has that access, but we now all have access. The easiest alternative is going Renfrew way.
“There’s only one OPP, and only one Municipal office.” Mayor Moore added. “Why in heaven’s name do we have to belong to two different boards?”
Councillor McLaughlin said that they used to have the Upper Valley Detachment, which met every four months, as well as the CPAC in Renfrew.
CAO Trembley said they had eliminated the old CPAC boards and local boards and replaced them with one board.
“We used to have the officers come into our meetings, and we could voice concerns.” McLaughlin said. “We don’t have those anymore.”
“When you don’t have a police services board, you’re really begging them to come. The CPACs would really depend on who was there.” Trembley said. “This really cleans that up and provides us a means of communication with the police.”
CAO Trembley said that they would have to appoint a citizen member, as well. Mayor Moore asked if
“Our policing requirements are all similar to those around our area.” Trembley said.
Councillor Nicholson said that it had been his responsibility to attend the CPACs, and said that they’d had “far more participation in the Renfrew one.”
“In the Upper Ottawa valley, we’re a very small fish in a very large pond.” he said, referring to Pembroke and other area’s influence in the area.
“We’re surrounded by municipalities that have the same issues as we do.” he said, saying they’d “Get nothing” from being on multiple boards.
The motion was carried.
