After a year of arbitration and negotiations, Haldimand County and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have come to an agreement to renew the OPP Policing contract for five years.
The debate started at the last Council in Committee meeting on December 7, 2009 and a council meeting last Thursday morning. After hours of debate Haldimand County Council voted for Option #2 (3,257 hrs less than Option #1). The vote carried 4-2 last Thursday.
Jack Esselment, Vice Chair of the Haldimand County Police Services Board (PSB) and Stewart Patterson PSB member, Inspector John Periversoff and Staff Sergeant Phil Carter of the Haldimand County OPP detachment were also on hand last Thursday to answer any questions from members of council.
In 2003 the last time the OPP contract was renewed the contract went by hours and we had 50.10 constables then the same as Option #1 now said Councillor Lorne Boyko.
"On one side we are dealing with finances, on the other side we are dealing with levels of service," said Boyko. "We will be going back to "pre 2006" policing levels. Boyko noted that the council of the day were not satisfied with the levels of service and asked for "4" additional officers.
Boyko and Councillor Craig Grice voted against Option #2.
Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer who sits on the PSB with Boyko had recently voted in favour of Option #1 (the enhanced level) at a PSB meeting in early December. The PSB had unanimously passed a motion requesting Haldimand County Council accept Option #1.
"The level of service is the issue here, yes there is a price tag to go with it", said Boyko. Although cost is a factor there are certain things that the public is willing to pay for.
"The contract is weighted in favour of the Province and the OPP," said Grice. In an interview with the Chronicle, Grice said his reason for voting against Option #2, was that "the contract is horrible". Grice went on further to say that he would have voted against Option #1 as well.
In recent years, the OPP used a formula to calculate the costs of policing based on data from 2001.At Monday nights council meeting the vote was ratified and carried 5-2.