(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
Town says organizations need approval before providing organized services on municipal property regarding harm reduction supplies
The Town of Cobourg is making it clear that organizations cannot simply use municipal property to distribute harm-reduction supplies without approval from the municipality.
The issue came to light after Today’s Northumberland received information concerning the distribution of harm-reduction supplies from mobile service vehicles in Cobourg.
Today’s Northumberland contacted Town Clerk Brent Larmer to clarify exactly where the municipality stands.
Larmer said organizations cannot solicit or provide organized services on Town property unless those activities have been approved or licensed by the Town.
“No organization can solicit or provide a service in an organized manner that isn’t approved or licensed by the Town on Town property,” Larmer stated.
He said the Town has not licensed or approved any organization including Peterborough Aids Resource Network (PARN) and the Durham Community Health Centre to provide the harm-reduction services on town property.
“Additionally these types of activities would not be permitted to occur on Town property and would be against the Towns Nuisance Bylaw,” Larmer stated.
The Town’s position raises particular questions about mobile harm-reduction services that operate from vehicles and stop in areas where people can access their services.
Today’s Northumberland also contacted Durham Community Health Centre, which operates a mobile unit providing services in the community.
The unit was reportedly operating on McGill Street beside Victoria Park and may have been spoken to by municipal by-law officers.
Today’s Northumberland contacted Durham Community Health Centre several times seeking clarification about what happened and whether municipal officers had directed the mobile unit to stop operating from the location.
The organization did not respond to requests for comment.
Today’s Northumberland also contacted the Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN), a community-based agency providing harm reduction, education and support services in the Peterborough area.
PARN Executive Director Dane Record said his organization’s front-line team confirmed that the information provided to Today’s Northumberland concerning the Durham Community Health Centre mobile unit was accurate.
Record said he contacted municipal law enforcement himself to clarify whether service vehicles such as those operated by PARN and Durham Community Health Centre could legally park in the downtown core for three hours or less while carrying out their work.
His response was blunt.
“According to the front line team, this is accurate. I called by law or rather municipal law enforcement just to clarify the municipal stance on whether service vehicles like our organization and DCHC can lawfully park in the downtown core for three hours or less to do our work. We were not met with opposition by municipal law enforcement, nor are we met with opposition from anybody who really gives a shit.”
Record’s comments appear to put a different perspective on the situation than the position subsequently provided by the Town.
While Record said he contacted municipal law enforcement specifically to clarify whether the vehicles could park in the downtown core for up to three hours while providing their services, Larmer said the Town has not approved or licensed organizations to provide the harm-reduction services on Town property.
For the Town, however, Larmer’s position is clear.
Organizations providing organized services on municipal property must have the Town’s approval or licensing to do so.
And without that approval, the Town says the activity is not permitted on Town property and can be contrary to its Nuisance By-law.
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
