The Guelph Police Services Board is still meeting, for July anyway, and there are a couple of different pieces of business that they need to dispatched before summer vacation begins. Along with the usual monthly matters like the Chief’s report and new appointments, there’s a follow-up report to last month’s delegation about loud cars, and, despite the timing, we’re about to catch budget fever.
NOTE: This meeting takes place virtually at 2:30 pm but it will be broadcast on Guelph Police’s YouTube page.
PRESENTATIONS/DELEGATIONS:
Someone named Mahmud A. Hassain wishes to discuss a matter simply described as “support for Guelph Police Service.”
Human Resources Report: Member Appointments – There are five appointments that the Board has to approve this month, one special constable and four civilian positions. As a matter form, the Police Board have to ratify all appointments to the Service, be they civilians staff or uniformed officers.
Board Subcommittee Appointments for 2023 – The board will elect the membership of the various committees under the board including: Collective Bargaining, Finance, Policy Review and Performance Appraisal.
2022 Final Financial Variance Report – There’s not much in the way of new information here. The positive variance from 2022 reported to the board earlier this has been allocated according to their wishes, and the completed audited statements were submitted to city council last month and approved.
Professional Standards Quarterly Report – There were 16 new complaints received by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director about the Guelph Police Service in the second quarter, but only seven of those were referred to Professional Standards. Out of those sevens, one of the items has already been concluded, but six are still under investigation. The good news is that there are now no open files under the Special Investigations Unit banner.
Board Correspondence Report – There are three pieces of incoming mail including two letters of thanks about the Police Service’s support of a fundraising golf tournament and a more mysterious letter about next month’s meeting. In outgoing mail are letters of congratulation and a letter back to the person who was asking about next month’s meeting.
Community Account Report – As you may know, the Police Board from time to time gives different community organizations funding and donations from their community account. So far this year, donations have gone to the Norma Owen Golf Tournament ($500), Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition ($3,500), Kickz Soccer ($1,600), and Michael House ($500). That’s $6,122.55 in disbursements with banking fees, and there was $70,520.86 in the account on the first day of the year.
Ten Year Capital Budget and Forecast: 2024–2033 – In what may be the first budget presentation of the 2024-2027 multiyear budget process, Guelph Police staff will layout their request for just over $36 million for the next four years, and nearly $42.8 million for the next 10 years. Some of these requests are pretty standard like the life cycle replacement of equipment and vehicles, but other requests include a new closed circuit TV system and some additional facility upgrades like a new target retrieval and booth system at the target range.
Loud Vehicle Enforcement (June 2023 Open Meeting Information Delegations/Presentations) – Following up on last month’s delegations about noise concerns from loud cars, the Service has developed this formal response. “The issue of loud vehicle noise is one of many competing priorities in a comprehensive strategy to promote road safety,” the report reads. “Unfortunately, current staffing levels do not align with the ever-increasing service demands of our rapidly growing community.” The report includes statistics that show that the Service is trying to ramp up enforcement on loud cars, but the report doesn’t render any judgment about the implementation around noise cameras.
Chief’s Monthly Report – As usual, Guelph Police Services Chief Gord Cobey will deliver a verbal report about the latest goings on at 15 Wyndham Street South.
Guelph Politico 