Council Votes to Keep Shelburne Police

June 24, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Michelle Janzen

Shelburne Council has voted down a motion to pursue the possibility of folding the local police department into the Dufferin OPP – but some local lawmakers still want more information.

The Shelburne Police Service (SPS) was established in 1879 and currently consists of 23 members, including 13 police officers, four auxiliary police officers, and two civilian support members.

These members provide 24/7 emergency response to approximately 6,500 residents responding to more than 4,000 calls per year.

With their Police station located at Shelburne Town Hall, it seems it is overcrowded and is in need of major upgrades according to provincial standards.

After gathering facts, a sub-committee put together a report showing it would cost roughly 4 million dollars to have a new station built.

“As it stands, the police station project is ineligible for any Provincial or Federal grants,” Shelburne CAO John Telfer told Council. “If Council decides to purse the option of construction, essentially it would not take place until between 2018 and 2020.”

At an earlier meeting, Len Mikulich, Chair of the Police Services Board, spoke in favour of keeping the Shelburne Police Service.

“With the town’s rapid growth and the ever-changing expectations on policing, we need to plan for the future,” said Mikulich.

On Monday night, however, Mayor Ken Bennington made things clear.

“There is no problem with the Police Service being provided, the problem lies within housing the Police services,” he said. “The uniqueness of Shelburne is that the OPP has a brand new police station five kilometers away.”

However, Shelburne pursues the OPP option, which could also take up to two years, they could not continue to look for ways to build a Shelburne police station, he added. The choice could only be one or the other as mandated by regulations.

During a question period Ed Crewson, the previous mayor of Shelburne, pointed out what he saw as several flaws in the report that Council was basing their decisions on. He affirmed the level of personal service, dedication and value that our local Police bring to the residents of Town.

At this week’s Council meeting, Councillor Wade Mills brought forth a motion which would direct the Town to pursue costing from the OPP, which would subsequently defer any improvements and or upgrades for the SPS.

“I will be voting against the motion,” said Councillor Randy Chambers in the ensuing debate. “I believe the residents of the Town of Shelburne strongly believe in the Town of Shelburne Police force, and I believe that even if we were to pursue the costing from the OPP over the next two years we would still end up making the same decision then.”

Added Councillor Wade Mills: “The Shelburne Police Services’ loyalty and services are paramount, however, I feel a sense of responsibility before spending that kind of money and feel we need to exercise all our options so that when the time comes to make that decision at least we are armed with all the facts.”

Following the discussion, Mayor Bennington praised the work of the SPS, but threw his support behind the motion.

“I am very pleased with the service we receive with the Shelburne Police Service, and I said that many times, but what I’ve also heard is that we are in a tough spot financially making the financing of a new station impossible at this time,” he said. “While I’m completely happy with the service provided today, I don’t have all the facts. With that I will be supporting this motion strictly to get the facts. When the facts come in, we may find a price that’s enticing. That doesn’t mean we have to accept it. It may also come back and say that the SPS are doing a bang up job. Getting an OPP costing is strictly a continuation of the fact finding mission.”

A recorded vote was then taken where it was defeated in a 5-2 decision.