Part 2: PEC Police Board Moves Ahead with Safety Group and Digital Watch Program - 11/9/2023

This part breaks down who spoke during the meeting, what they raised, and how those decisions and discussions connect back to the community. While Part 1 focused on what happened overall, this section gets more into the details: motions, questions, and concerns that came up around safety, programs, and local priorities.

The agenda was approved with a motion moved by Rick Gwozdowski and seconded by Mayor Steve Ferguson. The vote carried.

The minutes from the September seven two thousand twenty three meeting were adopted after a motion moved by Rick Gwozdowski and seconded by Robert Rutter. No concerns were raised, and the motion carried.

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Community safety and well being working group appointments

Staff presented a partial slate of members for the Community Safety and Well Being Plan Working Group, explaining that this group would help guide implementation of the plan and assist in recruiting remaining members.

Councillor Janice Maynard, chair of the board, read the motion recommending that council appoint representatives from education, social services, housing, seniors support, poverty reduction, and domestic violence action teams, along with board and police representation.

The motion was moved by Rick Gwozdowski and seconded by Mayor Steven Ferguson. There were no questions from board members, and the motion carried. The appointments will move forward to council for ratification, which will allow the working group to begin its work affecting county wide community safety initiatives.

Operating budget discussion

A motion to receive the Police Services Board operating budget discussion was moved by Rick and seconded by Robert Rutter. No discussion followed, and the motion carried. No area specific impacts were raised during this item.

Neighborhood Protect program endorsement and member concerns

The board considered the Neighborhood Protect program, a digital version of traditional neighborhood watch.

Sean Guscott, Acting Staff Sergeant,  explained how the program allows residents and businesses to share information online and how police can monitor reports. He stated the platform is free and open to anyone, including seasonal residents.

Robert asked about signage and whether entire communities like Wellington would be included. Guscott explained that participation is individual but confirmed plans to promote the program locally, including in Wellington, through public talks and media outreach.

Rick raised concerns about eligibility and whether people could join for harmful reasons. Guscott said no criminal checks are required but committed to asking the program administrator about safeguards.

Mayor Ferguson and Councillor Maynard raised concerns about misuse, privacy, and photo uploads. Guscott stated he would follow up with the program administrator and report back.

The motion to endorse implementation of Neighborhood Protect in the County was moved by Mayor Steve Ferguson and seconded by Rick. The vote carried.

Detachment reports and local impacts

A verbal report confirmed there were no public complaints under the Ontario Police Services Act. The motion to receive the report was moved by Robert and seconded by Mayor Steve Ferguson, and it carried.

During the detachment report, Acting Staff Sergeant Sean Guscott clarified that an abduction entry in police data was an error and confirmed no abductions in the County. He reported increased impaired driving incidents county wide and noted increased ride programs and traffic stops.

Rick asked about linking impaired driving enforcement with mental health supports. Guscott described a local case where an impaired driver was referred to counselling services.

Specific locations referenced included Wellington, Massassauga, Rendersville, Athol School, PECI, Picton Harbour, and the Glenora Ferry, mainly in relation to traffic safety signs, fraud prevention talks, and community programs.

The motion to receive the detachment report was moved by Mayor Steve Ferguson and seconded by Rick, and it carried.

Governance concerns and next steps

Rick raised concerns about limited meetings, strategic plan oversight, and how serious incidents are reviewed by the board. The clerk clarified that the chair and vice chair are elected at the first meeting of the year, currently scheduled for February, and that additional meetings can be added by motion.

Councillor Janice Maynard stated that reviewing the board’s strategic plan would be prioritized and that a January meeting may be scheduled.

The meeting adjourned at ten fifty six in the morning following a motion moved by Mayor Steve Ferguson and seconded by Rick.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 54:02. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.