1. STAFF PRESENTATION ON TRANSITION INTO OSGOODE TOWNSHIP

Deputy Chief A. Mackie stated the transition into the Townships of Rideau and Osgoode scheduled to take place in July will be the culmination of a 12 month planning process. He indicated the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police Service is committed to working with volunteers and maintaining existing community police offices.

Supt. R. St. Pierre explained Osgoode Township will be part of the East Division. The township will have 16 officers assigned to it, five of whom are transferring OPP officers, and 11 Regional Police officers who have volunteered to work in Osgoode. There will be two patrol officers on duty at any given time with a shift overlap during the evening hours. All operational supports will be available from the Central Division and the pivot of the operation will be the District Inspector, V. Burns.

Insp. V. Burns indicated his role will be to oversee policing activities in Osgoode and Cumberland and to liaise with elected officials and volunteer groups. Regional Road 6 will divide the two patrol zones with the north vehicles and the south vehicles reporting to the community police offices in Metcalfe and Osgoode respectively. There will be a shift-overlap from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. at which time the number of officers on patrol will be doubled and coordination will come from a Platoon Staff Sergeant at the Leitrim Road office.

Insp. Burns indicated the Community Resource Officer, Jean Paul Vincelette, a transferring OPP officer, will be looking after volunteers in the Township. There are two community watch programs operating in Osgoode and they will continue to function with the support of the Ottawa-Carleton Police. A marine unit, stationed on the border of Rideau and Osgoode, will cover both townships, patrol officers will cover snow mobile trails during the winter and a school resource officer will be assigned to the Township. He confirmed everything is in place for the July transition.

In response to a question from Member Boudreau, Inspector Burns indicated the officers being assigned to Osgoode Township have an average of 11 years experience.

Member Baskerville wondered about the radio communication system. Inspector Burns indicated there is a tower in Vernon which will ensure coverage throughout the municipality. The radio system has been tested and is fully functional.

2. COMMUNITY DELEGATIONS

Councillor D. Acres noted Osgoode has an excellent group of dedicated volunteers and Township representatives are very excited about the four community groups coming together to form a township-wide group. He believed this would facilitate communication with the Police. Though he expressed appreciation for the work of the OPP, he was very enthusiastic about the upcoming transition to Regional policing. Chair Vice acknowledge it will be hard to live up to the OPP service but the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police Service will do its best.

Regional Councillor R. van den Ham recalled discussions about the possibility of having a community police centre in Greely and wondered about the process to get that started. Chair Vice re-iterated the Board’s commitment to match OPP assets on a one-to-one basis but stated if rents can be kept down, the Board would be willing to consider the possibility of new centres as the need arises and volunteers are identified.

In response to a question from Member Baskerville, V. Burns explained that after three meetings with the community groups, representatives from the Ottawa-Carleton Police have proposed a plan that would see the creation of one body to oversee the 4 groups and take information back to them so they can remain autonomous. He believed a group would be in place by July. He also noted the community watch groups feel they can benefit from using the community police centre facilities.

OTHER BUSINESS

Adequacy Standards Regulation Recommendations

Member Baskerville reported on his attendance last week at the Ontario Association of Police Boards (OAPSB) executive meeting. In particular, he briefed the Board on some of the pertinent changes to the Provincial Adequacy Standards. He noted the implementation date has been extended to January 2001. While a lot of detail and specific requirements have been removed, changes of particular concern included requirements for a formal relationship between Police Services Boards and Council, and a Crime Reduction Plan. He also noted some of the wording of the Standards will require clarification. In response to a question from Member Buckingham, he indicated the revised standards provide a last opportunity for stakeholders to put forward their comments because the document goes to Cabinet for approval in August. Member Baskerville stated he would work together with Member Buckingham and Deputy Chief Mackie on the items of concern.

Member Buckingham noted the late July deadline does not give Boards much time to prepare their responses and wondered about the possibility of having discussions on this issue at the June and July Board meetings.

Deputy Chief Mackie stated he would have a discussion paper and a presentation on the changes for the June Board meeting. The Board can then discuss it at the July meeting.

ADJOURNMENT