Essex County OPP Detachment Board - North

Minutes

Meeting #:

Date:

Monday, November 04, 2024

Time:

3:00 P.m. - 4:30 P.m.

Location:

Tecumseh Town Hall - Council Chambers

917 Lesperance Road

Tecumseh, Ontario N8N 1W9

Present:

• Tecumseh Mayor, Gary McNamara
• Chair, Paul Sweet
• Member, Christopher Hales
• Vice Chair, Dave Kigar
• Essex Mayor, Sherry Bondy
• Lakeshore Mayor, Tracey Bailey
• Municipal Liaison, Margaret Misek-Evans, C.A.O
• Municipal Liaison, Doug Sweet, Essex C.A.O
• Municipal Liaison, Susan Hirota, Lakeshore Corporate Leader- General Counsel
• Member, John Quennell
• Member, Karen M. Robertson
• Member, Marc Gomes

Absent:

• OPP Staff Sergeant, Todd Lavigne, Lakeshore
• OPP Acting Inspector, Jamie Smith, Essex County
• OPP Superintendent, Mark Loucas
• OPP Staff Sergeant, Bryan Andrusyk, Essex
• OPP Acting Staff Sergeant, Christian Cortese, Tecumseh

Also Present:

• Recording Secretary, Ellen Preuschat
• Administrative Support, Karen Murteira

Absent:

• Deputy Clerk - Clerks Services & Policy Advisor, Christina Hebert

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A.

Call to Order

Chair Paul Sweet called the meeting to order at 3:04 pm.

B.

Roll Call

C.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that this land is the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations (comprised of the Ojibway, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi Peoples), and of the Huron-Wendat Peoples. We are dedicated to honouring Indigenous history and culture while remaining committed to moving forward respectfully with all local and regional First Nations and all of the Original Peoples of Turtle Island who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial.

D.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

There was no pecuniary interest declared by a member of the Board.

E.

Approval of the Agenda

• Motion: ECODB- 24/24
  Moved by Tecumseh Mayor, Gary McNamara
  Seconded by Member, Christopher Hales

  That the Agenda for the Essex County OPP Detachment Board - North Meeting, dated Monday, November 4, 2024, as duplicated and delivered to the members thereof, be accepted.

  Carried

F.

Approval of the Previous Minutes

There were no Previous Minutes presented to the Board.

G.

Delegations

There were no Delegations presented to the Board.

H.

OPP Monthly Report

There were no OPP Monthly Reports presented to the board. 

I.

Reports

1.

OACP/OAPSB Zone 6 Meeting - October 17, 2024 (Chatham, ON)

Re:  Chair's Verbal Report

Chair Paul Sweet reported on his attendance at the meeting held in Chatham, Ontario.  Chatham-Kent Police presented on its hosting of the Special Olympics. The detachment board remuneration survey has been completed and is available on the website. The monthly drop in sessions are continuing and can also be accessed through the website. The 2025 spring conference will be hosted by London Police Service. OAPSB membership fees were determined using the same formula as OPP costing at $0.21 per household, as noted in the draft budget being presented today.  Membership fees for Zone 6 are set at $300 and will be confirmed via virtual meeting following approval by this board. Ron LeClair, Police Services Advisor, complimented this board on its achievements thus far.  He also advised that during the board training, a number of board members resigned across the province due to complexity of training. 

• Motion: ECODB- 25/24
  Moved by Member, Marc Gomes
  Seconded by Member, John Quennell

  That the Chair's verbal report on the OACP/OAPSB Zone 6 Meeting held on October 17, 2024 in Chatham, ON be received.

  Carried

2.

Appointment of an At-Large Community Representative for 2025

Susan Hirota, Municipal Liaison - Lakeshore reported that by resolution on October 8, 2024, the Municipality of Lakeshore appointed Ed Hooker as the detachment board's At-Large Community Representative for for the year 2025, subject to police clearance.

a.

Town of Essex

b.

Municipality of Lakeshore

c.

Town of Tecumseh

• Motion: ECODB- 26/24
  Moved by Tecumseh Mayor, Gary McNamara
  Seconded by Member, John Quennell

  That the appointment of Ed Hooker to the Essex County OPP Detachment Board - North as the Municipality of Lakeshore's at-large community representative for the 2025 calendar year, subject to a satisfactory police clearance and as supported by the Town Councils for the Town of Essex, Municipality of Lakeshore and Town of Tecumseh, be received.

  Carried

3.

2025 Budget

Margaret Misek-Evans, Municipal Liaison - Tecumseh provided an overview of the 2025 draft budget, including relevant sections of the Community Safety and Policing Act: board remuneration; cost-sharing by the three municipalities; and what to do in event of a dispute.  A summary is as follows: 

• Budget for balance of 2024 - Municipal Liaisons reported directly to councils as the detachment board was unable to meet due to insurance. issues. Detachment Board budget was approved by the three municipal councils at $70,113 plus an allowance up to $5,000 for board insurance.
• Draft 2025 operating budget includes wages and benefits for members, support staff, and municipal liaisons, memberships, professional development, public relations, and insurance. 
• The total annual operating budget proposed for 2025 is $114,870 allocated equally between municipalities, except for costs associated with OMERS contributions for Tecumseh appointments, which are covered by Tecumseh.
• Draft allocations per member municipality are: Essex and Lakeshore: $38,109.67 each; and Tecumseh: $38,650.67.

Mayor Bondy requested consideration of a rotation for members wishing to attend Zone 6 meetings.  The Chair advised this should be addressed in the governance policy which will be presented to the board. 

Member Hales enquired as to how much involvement the detachment board will have in creating the OPP Annual Business Plan, as per the Act. Ms. Misek-Evans advised that the board will be consulted on the Local Action Plan which will be developed by the policing service. 

The Vice Chair will present the draft budget to Essex Council on November 25, 2024 and the Chair will present to Tecumseh and Lakeshore Councils on December 10, 2024.

• Motion: ECODB- 27/24
  Moved by Tecumseh Mayor, Gary McNamara
  Seconded by Member, John Quennell

  That Report No. ECODB-2024-06, 2025 Budget, be received;

  And that the 2025 Draft Budget for the Essex County OPP Detachment Board – North (Lakeshore, Essex, Tecumseh) be approved;

  And further that the Detachment Board’s recommendation to approve the 2025 Draft Board Budget be forwarded to the Municipality of Lakeshore, the Town of Essex and the Town of Tecumseh for consideration of approval during their respective 2025 municipal budget deliberations;

  And further that the Board Chair or alternate be authorized to present the 2025 Draft Board Budget to each municipal Council when each municipal budget is tabled.

  Carried

J.

Communications - Action Required

There were no Communications - Action Required items presented to the board.

K.

Communications - For Information Purposes

1.

Meeting Minutes dated March 21, 2024

Re: Windsor Essex Regional Community Safety and Well-Being Systems Leadership Table

Ms. Misek-Evans advised that the minutes are provided for information only. They are the most recent available. 

Mayor Bondy noted that Mary Birch, former Clerk for the County of Essex, has retired. She would like to know if Ms. Birch has been replaced and feels that a member of this board should sit at the Leadership Table.  Ms. Misek-Evans will enquire about Mary Birch's replacement and also if Supt. Loucas has replaced former Inspector Angela Ferguson on the Leadership Table.  

Mayor McNamara expressed his support of Mayor Bondy's recommendation, as did Member Hales.

Chair Sweet questioned whether the Leadership Table would be more on the administrative side.  He offered to represent the Board on the Leadership Table, if appropriate.  

Mayor Tracey Bailey questioned who holds terms of reference. Ms. Misek-Evans advised that the minutes are provided to City Council and County Council for approval, as they co-funded the Plan and its subsequent implementation. 

• Motion: ECODB- 28/24
  Moved by Tecumseh Mayor, Gary McNamara
  Seconded by Vice Chair, Dave Kigar

  That a letter to the Windsor Essex Regional Community Safety and Well-Being Systems Leadership Table requesting the addition of Chair Paul Sweet as a member, if appropriate, be forwarded with a copy to be provided to the detachment board for Kingsville, Leamington, Pelee Island, and Caldwell First Nation.   

  Carried

L.

Unfinished Business

There was no Unfinished Business presented to the board.

M.

New Business

1.

Other New Business

Mayor Bondy advised that the Town of Essex OPP Satisfaction Survey should be out soon and suggests that this board do the same.  Mayor Bondy notes that one particular housing complex is receiving an average of one call for service per day, and the Community Housing Corporation is looking at ways to reduce these calls for service, including those with respect to traffic. 

Mayor McNamara advised that the Town of Tecumseh does a citizen satisfaction survey every two years which includes policing, and does not wish for duplication.  Chair Paul Sweet suggested a consolidation of surveys for the three municipalities. 

Chair Paul Sweet presented a list of grants available to communities for various policing programs, for the Board's information.

N.

Next Meeting

December 9, 2024 at 10:00 am in Tecumseh Council Chambers

O.

Adjournment

• Motion: ECODB- 29/24
  Moved by Member, Karen M. Robertson
  Seconded by Member, John Quennell

  That there being no further business to discuss, the Monday, November 4, 2024 meeting of the Essex County OPP Detachment Board - North adjourn at 3:45 pm.

  Carried