Northumberland County Committee Tries to Address Misconceptions
(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Northumberland County council’s Social Services Committee meeting learned that there are still misconceptions about the county’s shelter at 310 Division St. in Cobourg, when they heard a number of speakers address them on this issue.
The concerns were well summed up by the first of seven speakers, long-time Cobourg resident Cathy Jewett, who complained of a lack of accountability, leadership and communications. She was also horrified by the warden’s actions “to silence and ignore Mayor Cleveland from speaking on the April 16 county meeting.
“You also silenced the residents of Cobourg. This is totally unacceptable,” Jewett said.
“This reeks of favouritism.”
Jewett was horrified at reports of the recent fire inspection that resulted in Transition House removing recliners to address inspectors’ concerns about people sleeping in the warming hub, as well as a citation for understaffing.
She acknowledged that more housing is needed, but said it can’t all be in Cobourg.
“The mayors also need to step up and provide housing for their own community It does not serve the person experiencing homelessness to be ripped apart from their families and friends,” she said.
County Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Moore addressed some of Jewett’s concerns, saying the staffing ratio was required by the fire safety plan, and their standard of 1:10 is much higher than many shelters that operate closer to a 1:20 ratio.
On the day of the inspection, Moore said, three additional people were on the premises, resulting in a ratio of 1:10.75.
“It was not overcrowding, in that sense,” she stated.
As the ratio was set in contemplation of the opening of the warming hub, and the county has since also opened upstairs shelter beds and transitional living units, Moore wondered if this should not be revisited.
The removal of the recliners, which were replaced with tables and chairs, was the facility’s decision in response to the inspectors’ concerns about people sleeping.
“Folks did, perhaps, sleep for brief periods of time, but the TV was on, the lights were on, people were coming and going,” Moore described.
“It’s an active area, but people do tend to nod off or sleep for brief periods there.”
“At no point at any time did the town or by-law recommend moving any of the chairs or couches,” insisted Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland – not a member of the committee but permitted to sit in and participate in debate.
“That had nothing to do with the Town of Cobourg.”
Cleveland added that the town had only required that there be a ratio, and that the numbers were not set by the town.
Another concern was which staff holds the key to the fire-alarm system. This was not clearly identified to the inspectors, Moore said, but there has since been staff education on communicating this responsibility clearly to others.
Jewett wondered about periodic overcrowding, such as in response to storms.
“There has been advance planning to call in additional staff when necessary,” Moore replied – “how we can balance urgent needs with safety requirements, and find that sweet spot that is appropriate for everyone’s safety.”
Warden Brian Ostrander agreed that every community should be working on housing. And while the county receives funds to make affordable housing available, lower-tier municipalities must partner with the county on things like providing land.
In Brighton, they are beginning to look at land-banking. They have purchased “significant acreage in order to provide land for affordable housing,” and soon hope to issue an RFP for a private builder to join the partnership and see it to completion.
As for Cobourg’s mayor being unable to speak at last month’s meeting, Ostrander repeated the clarification he made at the time – that procedural bylaws do not allow a councillor to attend remotely and that, when a mayor cannot attend, the deputy mayor is sent instead. In fact, at that very meeting, Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky had sent Deputy Mayor Todd Attridge to stand in for her – something Cleveland had failed to do.
This rule can be waived by a vote of council, and Ostrander did put forth the motion – which failed to get a mover or a seconder.
Since that time, he added, he has also proposed that the rules be changed to permit a mayor to participate virtually in meetings, a change for which Deputy Warden Olena Hankivsky voiced her approval.
