(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
By Cecilia Nasmith/Northumberland 89.7/Today’s Northumberland
Following a November presentation at Cobourg council on drug use at the Albert Street bus shelter, the staff report requested was at Cobourg’s council meeting on Wednesday.
The report set out some measures that have been taken since then.
Now known as the Albert Street Washroom, it is checked and cleaned thoroughly at least four times daily, starting at 8 a.m. when they open and running through closing time at 5 p.m.
In addition to camera monitoring, the town’s Bylaw Enforcement Vehicle will be parked in front of the building when not in use as a reminder of the nearby Municipal Law Enforcement Building.
If a washroom is occupied during checks by bylaw officers, they will announce their presence and request access. Following a given wait time, the door will be opened. Anyone found to be using the facilities for anything other than the intended purpose may be issued a trespass notice.
There was also a list of further measures that could be taken at some future time, such as hiring dedicated security personnel for that facility to augment the bylaw-enforcement presence, or possibly hiring staff to be stationed there.
“The staff have a very thorough report,” Councillor Brian Darling commented.
“We should monitor the situation for a period of time to see if there’s an improvement. There’s always a time when somebody may disrupt the washrooms, but I think staff is doing a very good job, along with police and bylaw.”
Mayor Lucas Cleveland asked for input from Councillor Adam Bureau, in his capacity as newly elected chair of Cobourg’s Police Services Board. Bureau said he had discussed the situation with Chief Paul VandeGraaf.
“He assures me every morning in every downtown patrol, it always is being monitored, evening, night, morning, you name it,” he reported.
“He says they’re on top of it and are continuing to do so.”
