By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Decorum was lost to the point that police had to be called to Northumberland County council’s Social Services Committee meeting Wednesday.
It began quietly with several people in the gallery waving signs in anticipation of the presentation by James Bisson on the county’s Homelessness and Encampment Response report, detailing responses to the year-long encampment at the former Brookside Youth Centre.
Committee Chair John Logel reminded those in the gallery that procedural bylaws forbid the display of signs or placards. They were asked to leave them on the table outside the door, and reminded they could engage with the committee through such channels as delegations, correspondence and petitions.
Though the committee consists of Logel, Deputy Warden Olena Hankivsky and Warden Brian Ostrander, three of the remaining four Northumberland mayors were also present (excepting only Scott Jibb of Hamilton Township).
Bisson spoke in angry, strident tones describing “what many in Cobourg consider a crisis.”
He characterized the encampment as 400 days of “crime, overdoses, rampant drug use, violence, theft, fires, drug trafficking and countless acts of civil disobedience.”
Bisson also alleged irregularities in the county’s Dec. 8 $2.3-million purchase of 310 Division St., Cobourg, to use as a homeless shelter, actions that resulted in a “predetermined outcome” and displayed a “flagrant conflict of interest” among many principals.
People began waving placards again at this point, but put them down when asked.
Bisson detailed his allegations and put forth three recommendations – launch an investigation by an arm’s-length third-party entity with the authority to hold parties accountable, have the warden step down during this investigation and initiate a comprehensive performance review regarding these actions by an outside third party chosen by a majority of county council.
Failing that, he said, “I will seek redress through official channels and conduct a public response to hold county leadership accountable.
“The anxiety is growing in our town every single day we get closer to Nov. 13,” he said, referring to what is thought to be the closing date for the sale of the Brookside property.
As placards reading “Enough is enough” began waving again and shouting erupted, Logel called a 10-minute recess.
“This is but a taste of what’s to come. We must act,” Bisson said.
Returning from recess, Logel read rules empowering the presiding officer to expel any person for improper contact at the meeting.
“This is your last warning,” he said.
Asked by Hankivsky for specifics on what documentation he has, Bisson apologized for not having quite all of it together – though he said he sent in 16 documents with his request for a delegation.
“You are more than welcome to sift through them. I have no problem being told I am wrong, that I have misinterpreted,” he said.
“I am confident in what I am saying. I can back up with documents from the county as well as public records, and I invite you all, including the public to go through and scrutinize everything I have said to your satisfaction.
“I am not the enemy here,” he said, insisting that he was “just trying to move the needle” and get the county and town working together to achieve results.
Hankivsky asked for specifics of what he would do if his demands weren’t met.
“If you choose to ignore and discredit what I am saying, I will choose my path and go to the Ombudsman or Minister of Municipal Affairs – any entity that has the ability to come in from the outside and look at what’s going on in the county,” he replied.
“What I am hoping for is reform. We need to reform at this level of government.”
The agenda proceeded to a report on the Encampment Response and Progress at 310 Division St. but, first, Logel had to call another recess because of loud voices that proved to be a protester and a police officer. When the 10-minute recess (which proved to be more like 20 minutes) ended, Logel laid down the law again.
Delaying the business of the meeting, he said, in effect delays the county being able to do what is being asked.
With a uniformed police officer clearly visible nearby, Carman gave her report.
And in the end, the committee declined to make a motion to act on Bisson’s recommendations.
James Bisson’s speaking notes:
Good morning Chairman,
The presentation submitted for today’s delegation was scheduled to be presented at the last Committee meeting. That meeting was cancelled due to lack of agenda items which seems strange given the situation regarding emergency housing in Northumberland. Given the number of developments since then, this delegation will reference the report presented to County Council by staff on August 14th as well related items that have been made public since then.
Having read the report, I agree with the position taken by Councillor Cleveland. The report does not address the current crisis, contains no data regarding the Encampment, nor does it contain any plan to deal with an eviction of the Encampment which we now know from MPP Picinni will take place no later than November 13.
Once again, the County has failed to respond appropriately to what many in Cobourg consider a crisis. For 400 days, the residents at the Encampment have lived in tents with no heat, electricity, sanitation, or running water. For 400 days we have lived through crime, overdoses, shootings, rampant drug use, violence, theft, fires, drug trafficking, and countless acts of civil disobedience. For 400 days, we’ve heard sirens day and night. For 400 days, the County and the Town of Cobourg have been unable to collaborate and find a solution. For 400 days, the County has had the same plan and expects a different result.
In a crisis, we expect our governments to work together and lead for the good of all the people they represent. As the inevitable eviction approaches with each passing day, the County insists it’s doing everything it can and will do nothing other than react to whatever happens. In fact, Cobourg is the problem for not supporting 310 Division and Transition House by passing by-laws to protect their community.
What about 310 Division and Transition House?
At this time Chairman, I would like to enter into the public record the following:
· A transcript of my delegation
· Documents obtained from the County of Northumberland through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests
· Documents obtained from the public domain
I informed this Committee during my last delegation that I would be holding the County accountable for its response to emergency sheltering. Over the last 6 months I have reviewed: dozens of documents related to FOI requests, hours of video of official proceedings, the official meeting minutes from the NCHC Board, staff and consultant reports, and financial records of various entities. I have also reviewed public statements from County officials, County press releases, media reports from local news, as well as social media platforms containing local content. I’ve sought input from Cobourg officials, business owners, taxpayers, and residents of the Encampment to ensure due diligence in providing the facts, not my personal feelings.
A person of significant interest is the recently announced former Housing Services Manager/General Manager of Northumberland County Housing Corporation, known as NCHC. I find it interesting that he resigned less than a week before my appearance today as there are many, many questions regarding his roles in the last 12 months. Fortunately, the record speaks for him, and those questions are left to be answered by Council and the CAO.
The documents indicate that from November 15th to December 15th, 2023, a series of communications, meetings, decisions, and transactions were made by Staff to achieve a predetermined outcome with respect to the purchase of 310 Division. This involved the former GM who during that time was:
1. the Treasurer of the Board of Northumberland County Housing Corporation
2. the chairperson of TH,
3. the acting executive director of TH,
4. an applicant for a management posting with the County
This flagrant conflict of interest was left unaddressed by the CAO, the past Warden, and the past Deputy Warden, who currently serves as Warden and was on the Board of NCHC rd at the time these events took place.
According to internal emails, on November 16th, 2023, County Council was informed by staff of the 310 Division project. Staff proceeded to make an offer 2 days later, closing the purchase on December 8th at a cost of $2.3 million. Internal emails also indicate that Staff were moving ahead as quickly as possible on a property that was not listed for sale publicly, that they were using reserve funds with the County giving title to TH in exchange for a mortgage held by the County, and that they had no plan other than buying 310 Division on behalf of TH.
As chairperson and acting ED of TH, the former GM negotiated and signed the MOU on behalf of TH on December 6th. The following week, on December 15th, he was in a job interview with County staff he had negotiated with, worked with, and who had reported to the NCHC Board he sat on as Treasurer. On January 10th, he was offered the position, beating out 11 applicants, 3 of which were interviewed, despite having no qualifications.
The financial records reviewed clearly indicates that the County provides funding to TH with preference and no accountability. In fact, 2024 is the 3rd year in a row that TH received more than it spent for a cumulative total almost $600,000 in surplus funding. This unconventional funding approach impacts all other community partners who have strong governance and are effective including Cornerstone that turns away over 100 women and children is crisis due to lack of resources. The relationship between the County and TH seems preferential and simply crosses the line normally in place between two arm’s length entities.
There is no question in my mind that all of this is not circumstantial. I have reviewed the records thoroughly and without prejudice and have concluded that the one or more persons in County leadership are either grossly incompetent, willingly turned a blind eye, or are actively complicit given the oversight that should exist at the County of Northumberland. The facts indicate that there is little to no oversight or accountability.
Therefore, I submit to you Chairman, 3 simple recommendations to be put before a full, open session of County Council to restore public trust in this level of government:
· That an investigation be launched by an arm’s length, 3rd party entity with authority to hold leadership accountable
· That the Warden step down during the investigation
· That a comprehensive performance review be conducted regarding the CAO actions over the last 12 months by an outside 3rd party chosen by majority of County Council
Should this Committee choose to vote against advancing my delegation to full Council for a public debate at an open session, I will seek redress through official channels and coordinate a public response to hold County leadership accountable.
