During a meeting of Cobourg Council on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Mayor Cleveland referred to the Chair of Transition House Board of Directors.
Although the letter written on April 25, 2025 was not contained in the agenda, Today’s Northumberland has received a copy.
The letter written by Meaghan Macdonald, Chair, Transition House Board of Directors clearly outlines the Boards frustrations with the “alleged infractions of the Emergency Care Establishment By-Law.”
It was sent to Kevin Feagan, Manager of Bylaw and Licensing for the Town of Cobourg and copied to all of council, Tracey Vaughan, Chief Administrative Officer, Brent Larmer, Director of Legislative Services and Municipal Clerk along with Ellard Beaven, Fire Chief.
The letter states Transition House has paid the $250 fine to the Town of Cobourg issued by Cobourg Bylaw on April 10, but numerous times throughout the letter it refers to the “alleged allegations.”
Macdonald stated since the by-law was enacted, Transition House has been “unduly targeted” by the Town of Cobourg’s by-law.
“We have had no fewer than three inspections, including a surprise inspection at 3:00am on April 5, 2025 which resulted in the Order associated with the Penalty Notice.”
Macdonald stated that after the order was given to Transition House, the town took the “unprecedented step of issuing a press release revealing all of the details of the Order.”
Macdonald accuses the town of, “attempting to shame Transition House and fuel public dissent.”
As the Town of Cobourg released the details of the Order, Transition House felt, “compelled to share our version of events publicly as well.”
The Transition House Board explains in detail (letter below) the three grounds on which the Order was issued and provide their response.
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“We, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Transition House Coalition of Northumberland (“Transition House”) are writing today to advise you that we have paid the fine of $250.00 relating to the order issued to Transition House on April 10, 2025 (the “Order”) and related penalty notice 25C00072 (the “Penalty Notice”).
However, we wish to make clear our position with respect to the alleged infractions of the Emergency Care Establishment By-Law (the “ECE Bylaw”).
At the outset, we note that during a meeting between members of the Board and the Legislative Services Division for the Town of Cobourg shortly after the ECE Bylaw was enacted, we expressed our grave concerns with the scope of the ECE Bylaw.
We were assured by town staff that they would work with us in enforcing the bylaw.
Since we obtained our license under the ECE Bylaw, we have been unduly targeted by the Town of Cobourg’s bylaw enforcement. We have had no fewer than three inspections, including a surprise inspection at 3:00am on April 5, 2025 which resulted in the Order associated with the Penalty Notice.
As far as we are aware, the other licensed emergency shelter in Cobourg has never had an inspection.
We also note that the Town took the unprecedented step of issuing a press release revealing all of the details of the Order.
The only possible explanation is that the town is attempting to shame Transition House and fuel public dissent.
This is a far cry from the promise of co-operation that we were given.
The issuance of the Order and publication of the press release are particularly egregious given that the alleged breaches in the Order were not at all clear-cut.
We outline below the three grounds on which the Order was issued and provide our response.
The Town of Cobourg has elected to make this matter public, and therefore we feel compelled to share our version of events publicly as well.
The Order alleged that our operations breached several elements of Transition House’s fire safety plan.
The facility shall have one staff on duty for every ten occupants
While it is unclear why the ratio of staff to clients has any relation to fire safety, it was a requirement of our fire safety plan that we provide a ratio. The 10 to 1 ratio was based on an understanding that security staff would be included in the numbers.
In issuing the Order, the Town of Cobourg arbitrarily changed the interpretation and decided that we must have one shelter worker for every 10 clients.
Neither the town nor the fire department has provided any rationale for this unexpected change of position.
Transition House was not making staffing decisions in blatant disregard for the fire safety plan.
We staffed the space based on what we understood to be a mutual understanding of the requirement of the plan and using that interpretation, we were in compliance.
In order to comply going forward, we have now increased our shelter worker staff complement to the ratio required by the fire safety plan, however we maintain that this is an unnecessary drain on resources that is being arbitrarily dictated by the Town of Cobourg.
The on-duty manager shall at all times carry the key required to activate the two stage fire alarm
The Town of Cobourg accused Transition House of breaching the requirement to have an on duty manager carrying the key to activate the firm alarm.
During the surprise inspection on April 5, 2025 the by-law inspector determined that the staff member he was speaking to did not have the key and issued the Order on that basis.
However, the town inspectors failed to inquire whether there was someone else carrying the key.
In fact, the security guard has been delegated as the individual responsible for carrying the key and he was and does carry the key at all times.
The main floor warming/cooling area is not to be used as a sleeping area
During the surprise inspection on April 5, 2025, the by-law inspector observed ten individuals sleeping in the recliner chairs in the area known as the “hub.”
Transition House acknowledges that the fire safety plan indicates that the area is not to be used as a sleeping area.
While we submit that there is a difference between a bedroom, with a proper bed and covers, and recliners in a public area, we acknowledge that there were individuals sleeping in the chairs at 3:00am.
This is the basis on which we have paid the $250 fine. We have since removed the recliners and changed our policy to ensure that the lights remain on in the hub at all times.
We wish to note that these changes in policy will likely result in a decrease of individuals using the hub and an increase in individuals out on the streets of Cobourg.
It is well documented that sleep deprivation is detrimental to a person’s ability to function.
We, the Board, find it shocking and inhumane that a town whose priority is to ensure the “safety and integrity” of its citizens (to quote your press release) would insist that we take active measures to deny our clients sleep.
Nonetheless, we will continue to do so until such time as the Town of Cobourg changes its position.
Despite the continued inspections and interruptions brought upon by the Town of Cobourg, including the recent proposed amendment to the ECE Bylaw that threatens Transition House’s very existence, Transition House continues to work in good faith to be a good neighbour, and to comply with the over-reaching requirements of the ECE Bylaw.
It is incredibly disappointing and disheartening that the town takes every opportunity to impede our ability to assist our clients.
Despite the obvious attempt to control the narrative in the Town of Cobourg’s recent press release. it is clear that town staff and the Cobourg Town Council would really just prefer that the clients of Transition House go to some other town.
The reality is that, in the face of an opioid epidemic and a housing crisis, a growing population of unhoused citizens is Cobourg’s new reality.
The staff at Transition House are passionate, experienced, and very capable of doing their jobs.
Although we are opposed to the ECE By-law, we are prepared to abide by its requirements.
All we ask is that the town treat us fairly in its enforcement, and allow us to continue our important work.
As always, we remain ready and willing to work with the Town of Cobourg.
We would be happy to meet with members of your by-law enforcement team to discuss how we can better work together to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our community are supported.
Yours Truly,
Meaghan Macdonald
Chair, Transition House Board of Directors
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