District of Carleton North council briefs

April 11 meeting deals with future of policing, council roadshow, post office

By Sandra Hanson

Policing report pushes the idea of a municipal force

The District of Carleton North council is looking hard at policing in their community. At the April 11 meeting, Scott Oakes, Chair of the Ad Hoc Policing Model Committee, unveiled his report.

He advised council that the committee consulted with active police officers, retired police officers, nine municipal police forces around the province, and others to gather information on what models of policing could be viable for the District of Carleton North.

The committee compiled the information into a document titled the Policing Framework, which summarizes the current policing service, past service received when the RCMP had a detachment in Florenceville-Bristol, and how a conceptual municipal police force could look.

Mayor Andrew Harvey noted the deep concern residents and businesses expressed about the lack of police presence in Carleton North.

“When I was campaigning, this was the number one issue for people,” he said. “They’re scared and afraid, even where they live in their own homes. It’s our responsibility when we see a problem like that to try and correct it.”

While council and the committee didn’t share the framework’s details publicly, Harvey told council members the District of Carleton North currently spends $2 million annually for policing. He said the community receives little service for that money.

“We have no detachment,” said Harvey. “We have no presence in the communities. We have a large geographical area, close to 1,400 square kilometres, which is challenging [for the RCMP] to patrol. It has to be done on a more local basis.”

Harvey stressed that people need to feel safe as they live their lives and do their business, and they need to have their property protected.

“The [current] system is not serving us well, and the money that we pay is a significant amount,” he said.

Council accepted The Policing Framework report and will submit it to the Department of Justice and Public Safety to explore the viability of the proposed municipal policing model. He said the town could also discuss other suggested alternatives.

Rezoning for Welcome Centre and Railway Museum

Mayor Harvey advised council that the Town of Florenceville-Bristol has been trying to find someone to lease the Welcome Centre and Railway Museum for tourism purposes. However, he added, the Western Valley Regional Service Commission advised the district that the property rezoning to make that happen.

Council agreed to request a rezoning of the property to allow for tourism-related use by an outside operator. Council meeting roadshow

Councillor Angel Connor explained to the council that the Ad-

Woodstock Living Free Alcoholics Anonymous

The local AA group “Living Free” meet at the St. Luke’s Parish Hall at 104 Church Street, Woodstock at 7 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. For more information, please call 1-800-340-4966 or email meetinglist@district5aa.ca