Father Says System Is Broken After Town Removes Hockey Net In Front of Cobourg Home
A Cobourg father is still waiting for answers after the town took his son’s hockey net from in front of their home.
Ben Cochrane said on Thursday, January 17, 2019 he looked out the window around 11 a.m. and saw that his 11-year-old son’s hockey net was missing from in front of their Daintry Crescent home.
“I didn’t know exactly what happened to it, but when I looked down the street, there was another one that was gone.”
After doing a bit of investigative work, Cochrane discovered his neighbour had security video that showed the Town of Cobourg Public Works Department had picked up the net earlier that day.
The security video shows a truck pull up in front of the Cochrane home about 8 a.m., lift up the net, throw it in the back of the truck and then leaving.
At that time, Cochrane said both of his vehicles were in his driveway, his wife was getting their two children ready for school, and his mother-in-law was also in the house.
“No one knocked on the door, no one rang the door bell, no one even left us a letter telling us they took it. They just threw it in the truck and left.”
“If we didn’t have the video we would have no idea where it went.”
After viewing the video Cochrane said he wanted to find out why they took it and more importantly where they took it.
“I started calling the town at about 11:30 a.m. and got told, you’re not allowed to put anything on the boulevard or the streets. There is a snow storm coming and everything has to be off. It’s a safety hazard.”
Cochrane said he received a letter from the town on December 20, 2018 stating, “we ask that you do not place and leave portable basketball/hockey nets on Town streets as it is not permitted for reasons relating to safety, accessibility, and road maintenance.”
Cochrane mentioned to his son to make sure when he is done playing hockey to make sure the net is off the street.
“We just told my son at that point, just leave it on the grass and off the street.”
The letter continued, “No part of the basketball net shall overhang onto the street whether it is on the driveway or boulevard.”
Which gives the impression that it can be on the boulevard.
Cochrane said he left a message with the Manager of Public Works the day he received the letter, but didn’t receive a call back and heard nothing more about the situation.
“Every winter, every summer for the last four years there has either been a basketball or hockey net on the boulevard.”
Spending Thursday afternoon reading up on the town bylaws, Cochrane couldn’t find anything that states the net can’t be on the boulevard.
After sending several e-mails to the Public Works Department, Manager Ted Sokay e-mailed Cochrane back shortly before 4 p.m. on Thursday.
“The hockey nets are at our Public Works yard located at 740 Division Street, building 7 in the Northam Industrial Park,” stated the e-mail.
“We are closing shortly, but your nets will be placed outside our fenced compound at the south end of the building.”
Sokay referred to letters that were sent to several addresses regarding basketball/hockey nets, “on the street and/or boulevard.”
“Homeowners were asked to removed these items from the street/boulevard within 24 hours of receiving the letter.”
In a reply Cochrane stated “unfortunately that is NOT actually what the letter states. This whole process is extremely frustrating.”
“It should be brought back to my house. Why should I have to get it when we did not break rules?,” Cochrane replied.
Realizing the unlikelihood of the town bringing the net back, Cochrane and his son drove to the Public Works Yard to pick up the net, hoping it would fit in the family vehicle.
After having his net back, 11-year-old Robert Cochrane said he wasn’t happy when the town took the net and was frustrated because he loves playing hockey.
“I thought it was wrong because it was on our property and they didn’t have the right to take it from me.”
Cochrane said there is clearly a problem with how the town handled the situation and he is still waiting for answers.
“The town took it when they clearly shouldn’t have.”
“It’s not on the street, it’s not a hindrance, it didn’t block, damage or do anything they were stating.”
“It’s a kid playing with his hockey net. He pulls it on the street when he needs it and takes it off when he’s done.”
“There was no reason for me to take all afternoon to figure out where it went.”
“Everybody was home, we were in the kitchen. Just knock on the door and say you need to move it.”
“Or if you are going to take it, leave a letter to tell us where it’s gone.”
“I can only imagine if they do a blitz like this how many nets are missing and people have no idea where their stuff went.”
Secondly the letter did not state the net couldn’t be on the boulevard where it has been for the past several winters.
“My third issue, the solution to leave it outside doesn’t make any sense to me. It’s an open property in the middle of an industrial park, you can’t just leave peoples property that you took.”
“I was glad I went and got it, but it was totally unnecessary and didn’t need to happen the way it did.”
“The process seems broken.”
Communications Manager for the Town of Cobourg, Ashley Purdy e-mailed Cochrane and stated, Director of Public Works, Laurie Wills will contact him on Monday after she has had a chance to speak with staff.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love