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Home My WebLink AboutCBRM Board of Police Commissioners Minutes - March 29, 2023 Cape Breton Regional Municipality Board of Police Commissioners Minutes Wednesday, March 29, 2023 10:00 a.m. Council Chambers 2nd Floor, City Hall 320 Esplanade Sydney, NS Commissioner Eldon MacDonald called the meeting to Order. Present: Commissioner Eldon MacDonald, Chair Commissioner Ken Tracey Commissioner Lorne Green Commissioner Dale Deering-Bert, Citizen Appointee, Vice Chair Commissioner Tom Vickers, Citizen Appointee Commissioner Noelle Gouthro, Provincial Appointee Staff. Police Chief Robert Walsh Marie Walsh, Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Campbell, Chief Financial Officer Deborah Campbell Ryan, Municipal Clerk Superintendent Reg Hutchings Inspector Bill Turner Desiree Magnus, Communications /PR Advisor Sharon MacSween, Recording Secretary Absent: Commissioner Helen Luedee, Citizen Appointee (Regrets) Also Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill Present: Councillor Gordon MacDonald CBRM Board of Police Commissioners Minutes 2 March 29,2023 Approved June 19,2023 Board of Police Commissioners Summary of Decisions 1. Land Acknowledtement 2. Administration of the Oaths of Office for Newly-Appointed Commissioners: The Municipal Clerk administered the Oaths of Office for the newly appointed members of the CBRM Board of Police Commissioners, namely Citizen Dale Deering-Bert and Citizen Tom Vickers. 3. Roll Call 4. Election/Selection of Vice Chair: Commissioner Dale Deering-Bert was declared Vice-Chair of the Board of Police Commissioners. 5. Approval of Agenda: Motion to approve the agenda and addendum. Carried. 6. Approval of Minutes: ➢ November 23, 2022 Motion to approve. Carried. 7. Cape Breton Regional Police Services -Proposed Budget 2023-2024: Addendum: CBRPS Cost Recovery: Motion that a recommendation be made to Council to approve the $5 nominal fee option with respect to Criminal Records Checks for volunteers. Carried. Continued... CBRM Board of Police Commissioners Minutes 3 March 29,2023 Approved June 19,2023 Summary of Decisions (Cont'd) Cape Breton Regional Police Services -Proposed Budget 2023-2024 (Cont'd): Motion that the proposed 2023-2024 Police Services Budget as presented by Chief Robert Walsh be recommended to Council for approval. Carried. 8. Divisional Reports: For information only. Adjournment CBRM Board of Police Commissioners Minutes 4 March 29,2023 Approved June 19,2023 Call to Order 1. Land Acknowledgment 2. Administration of the Oaths of Office for Newly-Appointed Commissioners: The Municipal Clerk administered the Oaths of Office for the newly appointed members of the CBRM Board of Police Commissioners, namely Dale Deering-Bert and Thomas Vickers. 3. Roll Call 4. Election/Selection of Vice-Chair: The Chair called for nominations for the position of Vice-Chair of the Police Commission. Commissioner Tracey nominated Commissioner Deering-Bert for Vice-Chair of the CBRM Board of Police Commissioners and the nomination was seconded by Commissioner Green. Commissioner Deering-Bert accepted the nomination. The Chair asked if there were any further nominations. Hearing none, Commissioner Dale Deering-Bert was declared Vice-Chair of the Board of Police Commissioners for 2023. 5. Approval of Agenda: The Chair noted that Chief Walsh had circulated an Issue Paper on CBRPS Cost Recovery as an addendum for today's agenda. Motion: Moved by Commissioner Green, seconded by Commissioner Tracey, to approve the March 29, 2023 CBRM Board of Police Commissioners Agenda and Addendum. Motion Carried. 6. Approval of Minutes: Motion: Moved by Commissioner Green, seconded by Commissioner Tracey, to approve the CBRM Board of Police Commissioners Minutes of: ➢ November 23, 2022 Motion Carried. CBRM Board of Police Commissioners Minutes 5 March 29,2023 Approved June 19,2023 7. Cape Breton Regional Police Services -Proposed Budget 2023-2024: The Chief of Police presented the proposed CBRPS Budget for the 2023-23 fiscal year. He advised that the total forecasted budget is $30,500,486, an overall increase of $2,630,357 from the 2022-23 budget. $2.4 million of the proposed budget is attributed to contractually negotiated wages, salaries and benefits, and $122,000 for recruitment incentives which is part of a pilot project to be funded through Operational Reserves. Chief Walsh advised that the MOU with the integrated traffic services with the RCMP has been discontinued due to CBRPS no longer having extra capacity and the positions being underfunded. As a result, there is a $348,000 reduction reflected in our cost recovery for 2023-24. As vacancies are filled, there may be the capacity to renegotiate the MOU in the future. Chief Walsh reviewed the adjustments being requested to the budget line items. It was noted by Chief Walsh that there is a $95,000 increase in existing revenues, and the potential for an additional $35,000 in new revenue, depending on the decision of the Commission related to the fee restructure. Addendum: CBRPS Cost Recovery: The Police Commission then recessed to provide an opportunity for its members to read and review the Issue Paper included in the Addendum regarding cost recovery. Police Commission Recessed at 10:28 a.m. Police Commission Reconvened at 10:32 a.m. Chief Walsh reviewed his Issue Paper and noted that fees for services have not changed since 2008 and the demand for these services has grown significantly with some of services costing money to provide. A comprehensive environmental scan of other police services was carried out. The increased fees being proposed are for police records checks, fingerprints, peace bonds and collision reports to align with other jurisdictions and the fees more accurately reflect today's cost of doing business. It was noted that annually, between 6400-6500 record checks are requested with volunteer checks estimated at approximately 2000. It was recommended in the 2022 issue paper that a nominal fee of $15 be charged for volunteer applications. As the cost may have impact on the volunteer sector, and fee waiving could be determined on a case- by-case basis with respect for the applicant's financial and personal situation. Continued... CBRM Board of Police Commissioners Minutes 6 March 29,2023 Approved June 19,2023 CBRPS Cost Recover (Cont'd): Following the report by the Chief, discussion included: Criminal record checks for groups of individuals Costs associated with document service • Fees would become part of a policy and cost increase tied to the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) • Potential revenues re Cost Recovery were not included in the proposed budget Charging volunteers a nominal fee of$5 criminal record checks • Annually, a number of volunteer criminal record checks are not picked up After discussion, the following was put forward: Motion: Moved by Commissioner Tracey, seconded by Commissioner Green, that a recommendation be made to Council to approve the $5 nominal fee option with respect to Criminal Records Checks for volunteers. Motion Carried. Cape Breton Regional Police Services -Proposed Budget 2023-2024 (Cont'd): Chief Walsh also noted as part of the budget, a Civilian Business Manager is being proposed to allow police managers to implement a key recommendation from the Org Review to the operation and that it is cost neutral position. At present, there are two vacant staff sergeant positions, and this is an ideal time to move forward to better administrative functions workflow analysis of the Department. Motion: Moved by Commissioner Tracey, seconded by Commissioner Deering-Bert, that the proposed 2023-2024 Police Services Budget as presented by Chief Robert Walsh be recommended to Council for approval. Motion Carried. 8. Divisional Reports: Superintendent Reg Hutchings reported on the following: Hi2hli2hts and Initiatives • Eight new Constables were sworn in to service as a result of an ongoing recruitment campaign to fill existing vacancies and maintain our compliment of front line officers keeping our communities safe. Continued... CBRM Board of Police Commissioners Minutes 7 March 29,2023 Approved June 19,2023 Divisional Reports (Cont'd): • Held the 15'h annual "Shop of the Class" in conjunction with the Mayflower Mall and Cape Breton Regional Center for Education, helping to fulfill wish lists for 38 deserving students with Mayflower mall gift certificates and additional shopping money donated by local businessmen as well as winter jackets from Sport Check. • Through checkpoints and targeted traffic enforcement Cape Breton Regional Police Traffic Safety and Patrol Officers stopped and checked more than 5,000 vehicles with assistance from MADD Cape Breton for increased education and awareness of the importance of sober driving. No impaired drivers were identified but police issued approximately 50 tickets to drivers for operating vehicles without valid and required paperwork. • Participated in the Opening Ceremony for the Red Dress Commemoration Park in Membertou, in honour and memory of murdered and missing Indigenous women, children and men. The community chose to develop this park at our police building, where it will be a symbol of our ongoing commitment to the rights of Indigenous peoples to be and feel safe. • Fifteen Cape Breton Regional Police members were presented with the Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal recognizing their service and contributions to our communities. • Charged a 31-year-old man with Second Degree Murder of Christopher Allan Reid, after an extensive investigation by the Cape Breton Regional Police Major Crime Unit, with the assistance from Forensic Identification officers and the Medical Examiner's Office. • Dedicated extra patrols to address community concerns in the Plummer Avenue area of New Waterford, leading to multiple arrests for outstanding warrants and information for further investigation and enforcement. Divisions: North/Central/East • Training • Patrols • Lockup • Membertou Division • K-9 Unit • School Liaison Officer Continued... CBRM Board of Police Commissioners Minutes 8 March 29,2023 Approved June 19,2023 Divisional Reports (Cont'd): Following the report by Superintendent Hutchings, Chief Walsh responded to questions. He advised that there are four police officers in 4 high schools with the majority of their salaries being funding through the Centre of Education. Additionally, Chief Walsh advised that CBRPS is below compliment by 24 members, 41 permanent members are off, and 2 officers are presently on modified duties. Inspector Bill Turner then presented on the following sections of the Report: Operational Support: • Traffic Safety Unit Street Crime/Drug Unit Community Safety Enforcement Unit Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) • Major Crime/Domestic Violence Unit General Investigation Section/Arson Investigator • Internet Child Exploitation Unit(ICE)/Computer Forensic Unit • Forensic Identification Unit Solid Waste • Mental Health Liaison Officer • Polygraph Unit After the update from Inspector Turner, discussion included: Safer Communities positions and the Act • Proceeds of profits from crime secured are surrendered to the Crown • Derelict buildings used for criminal activity For information only. The Chair noted that there being no further business on the agenda, the meeting is adjourned. Adiourned at 11:22 a.m. Commissioner Eldon MacDonald Deborah Campbell Ryan Municipal Clerk /slm