By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Check the agenda for Cobourg’s next council meeting to get the details of a potential daytime warming room, Mayor Lucas Cleveland advised fellow councillors at this week’s meeting of Northumberland County Council.
Describing it as a complement to the county’s overnight warming room at 555 Courthouse Rd., Cleveland said, “I am overjoyed with the opportunity” to have such a project come before his council for approval,
“We will be opening a warming and respite centre for the daytime hours to bookend the county’s warming room,” he said, adding that the project includes transportation between this hub and the county’s.
In arranging the project, Cleveland said he has been working with such organizations as the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction to ensure staffing “so our most vulnerable aren’t stuck in the lobby of Victoria Hal, suffering throughout the day.”
Assuming Cobourg council approval is forthcoming, County Councillor Scott Jibb asked, when might it open? Basically, Cleveland said, as soon as possible.
“I have been working diligently over the past few weeks finding an appropriate location,” he added, mentioning a $100,000 contract that is now out for security at the town’s bus shelter, skating rink and Victoria Hall lobby.
“After some overdoses and vandalism, it’s really important that our most vulnerable have a place to go.
We hope to have it up and running as soon as we obtain Cobourg council support.”
Hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., he added.
Councillor Mandy Martin asked if it would be licensed under the town’s Emergency Care Establishment bylaw.
“I leave that to the legislative director who is in charge of licensing – I don’t know those procedures. I am not a bylaw specialist,” Cleveland replied.
Cobourg’s regular council meeting for January takes place at 6:30 p.m. January 28
