Attempts to resolve the Emergency Care Establishment bylaw dispute followed a five-hour debate at a recent Northumberland County council meeting. Council approved $40,000 to pay for temporary shelter in local hotels for unsheltered people.
The debate at Northumberland County council:
The debate over spending $40,000 to house unsheltered people:
Once more, county staff were directed to negotiate a settlement over the outstanding issues related to Cobourg’s Emergency Care Establishment bylaw at a five-hour meeting on Oct. 29 . They were given five days to get it done.
Following a series of deputations, multiple motions were presented in an effort to settle what the county should do to get its license from the town. Multiple factors were placing pressure on politicians to move forward.
Transition House’s capacity was reduced to 10 beds from 22 following a recent Cobourg Fire Department inspection, which included a fire safety plan update.
Then, there is the impending sale of the former Brookside Youth Detention Centre on King Street. This is anticipated to uproot the unsheltered people living in an encampment.
Plus, the weather is getting colder, and no county-run warming room is currently available.
You can listen to the 40 minutes of the final debate, during which politicians debate and pass the final decision. A separate segment also discusses the $40,000 to pay for hotel rooms.
In Their Words is a feature that allows people to listen to what is going on at the various councils within Northumberland. No spin. No opinions. No one is telling you what to think. Just what was said.
It is a chance you might not have otherwise to hear directly from your elected representatives. I hope you find it useful and informative.
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