Tuesday 16 February 2010

Township breaking Police Service Board law

The township appears to have been breaking the law regarding the operation of its Police Services Board.

For years the township has not been paying the members who have been appointed by the province to supervise the operation of the OPP in Cramahe. That is despite the regulations of the Police Serives Act of 1990 which states in Section 27 Clause 12, "The council shall pay the members of the board who are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council or Solicitor General remuneration that is at least equal to the prescribed amount."

The matter was brought to the attention of the Cramahe Township Police Services Board by board member, Roseanne Quinn. According to accounts of a recent PSB meeting the OPP officer at the meeting concurred with Ms. Quinn.

Some members of Cramahe Council seemed to be aware of the requirements when the matter came up at the council budget meeting on February 9.

Mayor Marc Coombs noted that honorariums were legally required but hadn't been distributed "in years".

Councillor Pat Westrope was aware that neighbouring municipalities were paying the provincial appointees $60 per meeting. Councillor Westrope did not feel that council could go back and re-budget for 2009 to pay what was owed last year. And Deputy Mayor Jim Williams commented that it was "the least painful way to reduce costs". Councillors are not appointed by the province to the board and do not have to be paid.

In any event, Ms. Quinn will not let the issue rest. She feels she is due the money for meetings attended since she joined the board and will appeal to higher authorities if she does not get her due.





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