Cobourg mayoral candidate says financial review was underway before Cleveland’s August motion, which failed to receive a seconder
Nicole Beatty is accusing Mayor Lucas Cleveland of misrepresenting the timeline surrounding the Cobourg Police Service Board’s financial review, saying the process was already underway before he introduced a motion on August 26.
In a statement released Tuesday, October 13, Beatty said Cleveland’s claim that his motion prompted the Board’s financial review “grossly misrepresents the sequence of events.”
“When he brought a motion forward on August 26, he knew the Board had already started that review,” Beatty stated. “His motion did not receive a seconder. The review was already underway.”
The dispute comes as questions surrounding financial oversight at the Cobourg Police Service Board (CPSB) have become a public issue, with the Board referring financial concerns for independent review.
Beatty, who serves on the Police Service Board and is running for mayor in Cobourg, defended the Board’s actions and said the process began months before the Board’s October 11 public statement.
According to Beatty, the Board and its Finance Committee had repeatedly requested financial reports from the previous senior administration beginning in October 2025. She said those reports were not provided despite continued requests from Board members.
“At our new Chief’s recommendation, the Board initiated a detailed budget review in July with the Financial Manager who started in that position in May of 2025,” Beatty stated.
She said the review identified discrepancies and reporting concerns, prompting the Board to refer the report to the Inspectorate of Policing in accordance with Board procedures.
The report was also provided to the Town Treasurer for a peer review, and the Ontario Provincial Police were consulted, Beatty said.
Timeline at the centre of the dispute
Beatty pointed to several public announcements she said establish that the financial review was already underway well before the Board’s October 11 statement.
On September 9, the Police Service Board publicly announced that it had directed a financial review in July. The review was intended to examine expenditures, revenues, contractual obligations and projected year-end costs.
The Board also announced plans for a public Finance Committee meeting to provide an update.
On September 14, the Board advised that the meeting was being postponed to allow the review to be completed.
Then, on October 9, before a special Cobourg Council meeting was announced, the Board received a report from Chief of Police Chris Leather and passed a motion approving its recommendations.
That motion formed the basis of the Board’s news release issued Sunday, October 11.
Beatty said the timeline matters because the existence of the review had already been made public before the latest developments.
“This is not time for speculation or allegations,” she stated.
“The September announcements clearly establish that the existence of the financial review was public information before the October 11 release. They should not be confused with disclosure of the review’s findings.”
She emphasized that the independent review must now establish the facts.
Beatty defends Board’s transparency
Beatty also defended her own record on financial oversight, pointing to measures she said were introduced to improve transparency and public accountability after she joined the Board.
Those measures included moving Board meetings into Council Chambers so they could be livestreamed and recorded, as well as bringing members of the public onto the Finance Committee.
She also noted that a representative from the Inspectorate of Policing attends nearly every Board meeting to help ensure compliance with new legislation.
However, Beatty said she was disappointed with Cleveland’s handling of the issue.
“It is disappointing that the incumbent Mayor has chosen to mischaracterize this transparent, ongoing process for political gain,” she stated.
“The Police Service Board needs time to complete its due diligence, and these documented actions demonstrate our commitment to financial scrutiny.”
Beatty said the public should allow the established regulatory and law enforcement bodies to complete their work rather than speculate about the findings.
“Our local institutions function best when we rely on facts and established procedures,” she stated.
She added that she remains committed to supporting the organizations involved in the review.
Taxpayers deserve answers
Despite defending the Board’s process, Beatty acknowledged the seriousness of the financial concerns and said she would not minimize them.
“I will not minimize these concerns or make excuses,” she stated. “As a Board member, I am accountable for my oversight role.”
“Taxpayers deserve clear answers, and I will keep pressing for those answers and the changes needed to address the findings.”
Beatty said she is available and invited residents to contact her directly with questions.
The dispute now places renewed attention on the Police Service Board’s financial oversight, the timeline of its review and what the independent process will ultimately reveal.
While Beatty has challenged Cleveland’s account of how the review began, the review’s findings remain a separate matter. Those findings, along with any resulting recommendations or corrective measures, will be central to determining what happened and what steps may be necessary to address the concerns identified.
Today’s Northumberland will continue to follow developments surrounding the financial review and the questions facing the Cobourg Police Service Board.
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
