MARCH UPDATE - POLICE SERVICES BOARD DEPUTATION
Good day & welcome "Spring",
Please find below this email a link to the deputation presented by Roy Ellis
to the Police Services Board on March 19th.
On your behalf, members from Midlandcommunity.ca attend virtually all
Police Service Board (PSB) meetings and events. We have reported extensively of
late our observations with respect to the PSB’s overall level of effectiveness.
In a nutshell, we view 2013 as a lost year in terms of progress and
movement on things that should rank high in importance
along with safety and security for the citizens of
Midland. Namely, to create a timely and engaged community-based
strategic plan, place more discipline and framework around policies and
procedures, strive for greater transparency, control budget spending, and improve overall communications, to name but a
few.
After the deputation, Roy Ellis had the opportunity to field questions
and comments from the Board. The chair and others explained that over the past
year or so the amount of work has been unusual and overwhelming. The Chair also
defended the Board’s claimed privilege to routinely hold 'closed' meetings
excluding the public, a claim we continue to take great issue with.
It is clear to us that the Board through lack of policy, ability,
resolve and/or focus has created many of their own challenges. They simply need
to develop a work plan, manage distractions and get focused on those things
that matter. Mr. Ellis summarized the evening’s debate by suggesting the Board
perform an assessment on what went wrong in 2013 and take steps to assure this
level of dysfunction never happens again.
On a brighter note, we’d like to report that crime continues to decline
significantly both across the country, and importantly, right here in Midland.
Additionally, we learned that a collective agreement has finally been concluded
with uniform Police.
Our thanks go out to all of you who attended the PSB meeting as your
concerned presence clearly signaled to the members of the Board that 2013 was a
missed opportunity.
Best,
Roy Ellis for MidlandCommunity.ca
Read the Deputation here: MPSB Deputation by Roy Ellis
View All Newsletters & Press Releases »