(Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland presenting Fire Chief Ellard Beaven with 30-year Service Bar)
Today’s Northumberland has confirmed as part of his contract, Cobourg Fire Chief Ellard Beaven is allowed to take a municipally owned vehicle to Timmins where he resides when he is off.
Beaven was appointed Fire Chief with the Town of Cobourg in October 2022 after serving as interim Chief. Previous to Cobourg, Beaven served as the Deputy Fire Chief of Timmins.
The pickup truck Beaven is assigned from the Town of Cobourg is a 2024 Dodge worth approximately $60,000 to $70,000.
Typically with most fire departments that are the size of any departments in Northumberland County the Fire Chief is assigned a vehicle.
The vehicle comes with emergency lights and sirens and some equipment, but obviously not anything near the equivalent of a fire apparatus like a pumper or aerial truck.
Traditionally a Fire Chief will take the vehicle home after work. And in the case of an emergency they are able to respond from their home to the emergency in the local area.
CAO Tracey Vaughan said, the contract states, personal use of the vehicle is allowed.
“As they do respond to calls or report back in emergencies. However they purchase the fuel when it is used for personal use so that is not a cost to the tax payer.”
With Beaven’s contract stipulating for “personal use” he is allowed to take it home to Timmins which is a over 500 kilometres and approximately an 800 kilometres.
Vaugan said, Beaven prefers to fly, “but times when there is a chance we may need him to come back on short notice in response to an emergency he takes the truck so that he can return without delay.”
In a interview with Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland on Thursday, December 11, 2025 he stated the Cobourg Fire Service budget is approximately 18% increase, allowing the Chief to drive home to Timmins with a town owned vehicle saved relocation costs when he was first hired.
“We can always require leadership to relocate to Cobourg. Whether it’s Chief VandeGraaf, Chief Beaven or our CAO. That is an option.”
But Cleveland believes the average Cobourg resident doesn’t realizes, “the amount of money, that the Corporation is liable for to relocate someone.”
House prices, relocation costs, devaluation, market conditions to name a few said Cleveland.
When Cleveland relocated 17-years ago, from Edmonton to Calgary it cost the business $500,000 to relocate him.
“So when you’re asking about fiscal responsibility, these decisions are made to supply either transportation or in the case of Mr. Beaven a public vehicle.”
In Cleveland’s opinion, it is a personal contract between an individual and a employee.
“HR (Human Resources) reasons are no ones concerns other than the HR team and that employee.”
“The Town of Cobourg are always looking for ways to cut costs. So while everyone sees the cost of gas or the rental and criticize people like Paul VandeGraaf or Chief Beaven, the reality is, we are saving hundreds of thousands of dollars by agreeing to these kinds of contracts versus other contracts.”
“I support making the right decisions to ensure this town is a premium employer. Because if we want good work done, we have to ensure we have great 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
