By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Beginning July 12, the Town of Cobourg will be reopening Victoria Hall with hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (as well as other municipal buildings) to the public for select in-person appointments and walk-in services.
Chief Administrative Officer Tracey Vaughan – who took that position at a time when the downtown municipal building was closed to the public because of the COVID-19 pandemic, noted that entering Step 2 of the province’s Roadmap to Reopen is an opportune time to welcome back members of the community.
“Our on-line, phone and drop-box services are still available and will continue to be offered as an alternative to coming into Victoria
Hall,” Vaughan said.
The town has issued a press release outlining how select municipal services will begin to be offered to members of the public.
At Victoria Hall (55 King St. W.), the lobby will open to the public during the hours noted, and will serve as the front desk/reception providing walk-in service (no appointment necessary). Enter through the main doors and speak to the lobby attendant, who will phone the department where service is required.
Finance/Administration
Cash will not be accepted at this time, but debit and cheque payments for the following transactions will be accepted.
· Garbage Tags
· Parking Ticket Payments (which can also be paid online at https://parking.cobourg.ca/)
· Parking Permits (which can also be paid online at https://parking.cobourg.ca/)
· Tax Payments (on-line banking payments, drop-box and mail payments are still preferred)
· Transit Passes (will be available soon, stay tuned)
In-person appointments for questions regarding tax accounts or accounts receivable inquiries must be made in advance by calling 905-372-8944 or by emailing – tax accounts at taxes@cobourg.ca and accounts receivable at accountspayable@cobourg.ca.
Parcels and Deliveries
All deliveries to Victoria Hall can now be received through the front doors.
Building and Planning
Virtual consultations and meetings will continue, and the following in-person services will be made available through the Building and Planning Department:
· Building, sign, pool and plumbing permit administration, including application receipt
· Processing, payment, plans review, inspections, enforcement.
· Liquor license approvals
· Emergency building inspections, property standards services and other critical safety-related matters
· Permit database management and reporting (CityWorks Permits, Land and Licensing – PLL).
· Review of Planning Act applications.
· Review of Heritage Act and Heritage Permit applications.
· Planning Act application database management and reporting (CityWorks Permits, Land and Licensing – PLL).
All business and communication are encouraged to continue through e-mail, video conferencing or by phone, and application and plan submissions be conducted using digital means and/or courier, wherever possible. The Building and Planning Department can be reached by calling 905-372-1005 or e-mailing planninginfo@cobourg.ca.
Office of the Clerk/Bylaw
· In-person commissioning services and marriage licences will continue to be provided.
· Virtual council, committee and public meetings will continue until further notice, with a plan to begin hybrid meetings (both in-person and virtual) this summer.
· In-person inquiries of the Municipal Clerk Office to be provided.
· In-person Dog Tag Licensing to be provided.
· Bylaw enforcement operating as usual.
Public Works
Business operates as usual, though the continuation of e-mail, video conferencing and phone services is encouraged. The Roads and Sewers Department can be contacted to report a maintenance concern 24 hours every day by calling 905-372-9971 or reporting online at https://www.cobourg.ca/en/town-hall/Report-a-Problem.aspx#. Direct engineering enquiries to 905-372-9971, public transit and parking enquiries to 905-372-4555 and environmental services enqu8iries to 905-372-7332
Parks, Recreation, & Facilities
The Cobourg Community Centre building will remain closed to the public until Ontario enters Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen plan. However the following services are permitted under provincial
regulations:
· Summer Day Camp Programs (running from July 12 through Sept. 3)
· Online programming will continue to be offered until the building reopens in Step 3.
For additional questions call 905-372-7371 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Fire
The Fire Department Administration Building will re-open to the public (with COVID-19 precautions in place) beginning this week, with weekday hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please use the main entrance. Visitors will be limited to one inside the lobby at a time, and they must follow COVID safety precautions – face covering, hand sanitizer, screening questions and sign-in procedures.
Residents are encouraged to continue to access services remotely whenever possible. In-person appointments can also be made by calling 905-372-9789 or e-mailing fire@cobourg.ca.
Library
Though curb-side service will continue to be available, the Cobourg Public Library has now re-opened with new hours – noon to 8 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays (closed Sundays).
Art Gallery of Northumberland
The gallery will remain closed to the public until Ontario enters Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen plan.
Cobourg Police Service
The Cobourg Police Service building will partially re-open this week and fully re-open July 12. Further information is available at www.cobourgpoliceservice.com and on their Facebook page.
Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre
The Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre remains closed to the public but, under provincial regulations, can accommodate organizations that require facility space for health and safety training. Additional updates will be provided at www.venture13.ca or call 289-677-5490.
Venture 13 Home
Adhere to Physical Distancing and Public Health Advice
As the Town of Cobourg prepares to reopen municipal buildings, services and programs residents are reminded that public health protocols will continue to be implemented, including screening and wearing a mask upon entry to all facilities, as well as maintaining proper physical distancing.
For additional information visit the town’s COVID-19 Program and Services Update webpage.
