by Sylene Argent
Mayor Bondy, Councillor Verbeek present highlights of OAPSB Conference
Over the May 30-June 1 weekend, Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy and Councillor Kim Verbeek attended the 2023 Ontario Association of Police Services Board (OAPSB) Conference, which took place in Niagara Falls.
The duo presented the highlights of the trip. Council received their presentation.
Bondy is the Chairperson of the Essex Police Services Board and Kim Verbeek is a member of the Committee.
Verbeek said it was a good conference, and that it was the first since the new Police Service Act reached Royal Assent.
“We were able to get some clarity and information on how things are moving forward,” Verbeek said, adding they were also able to learn about the different aspects that are being implemented into the Act.
In addition to being a great learning opportunity, the Conference provided the opportunity for the members of the Essex Police Services Board to network. This included those who the Essex Police Services Board will have to work with in the future, after the local Police Services Boards are amalgamated.
In terms of the expected amalgamation of the local Police Services Boards, Verbeek said those who attended the conference came home without additional detail on that matter.
“We really thought this [conference] was when we were going to get some clarity on the timeline; we didn’t get that,” Verbeek said.
The conference did offer an array of great speakers, she added. Included was Solicitor General of Ontario, Michael Kerzner, and Attorney General, Doug Downey.
In addition, representatives of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) made presentations at the Conference.
Her favourite aspect of the conference was listening to a presentation on inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.
Overall, it was a good conference, Verbeek said, adding there were some presentations through the OAPSB that left attendees with more questions about certain matters than they had going in.
Bondy added one of the topics was how to increase transparency to the Police Service Board meetings, another subject was on policing challenges and how hard it has been to recruit people to policing.
She also spoke about auto theft and different devices that can be used to help track vehicles.
The common theme with those who sit on OPP police boards was that members want more of a say. She is going to be optimistic that police services boards will have more accountability with the OPP.
Fire & Rescue provides update
on private hydrant inspection
At the August 22, 2022 Council meeting, Council directed Essex Fire & Rescue to provide a report with a comprehensive list of all privately owned hydrants in the municipality, and provide information regarding the inspection and maintenance of these hydrants and Fire Safety Plan requirements.
At the October 12, 2022 meeting, Essex Council received Fire & Rescue Service’s report “Private Hydrants Inspection, Maintenance, and Fire Safety Plans, which noted Essex has around 758 fire hydrants located within the municipal right-of-way, of which it is estimated 67 hydrants are on private property and 58 hydrants are supplied by the Town of Amherstburg.
With a further update on the matter, Assistant Deputy Fire Chief, Jacey Brockman approached Council last Tuesday evening, noting since implementing the project, Essex Fire & Rescue has met with all local private fire hydrant owners. All 68 private hydrants have been inspected and flow tested.
There are still a few in the process of being painted. Privately-owned fire hydrants are now silver. The bonnets on the top of the hydrants also now have a colour scheme, indicating flow rate.
Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley asked if there is a policy in place to ensure this continues.
Brockman noted any private facility that has a hydrant has been added to the annual inspection program.
Previously, it was explained that the Fire Code prescribes various inspections and works that must be carried out on an annual basis. It is the responsibility of the hydrant owner to ensure that the requirements of the Fire Code are met.
The Town of Essex Environmental Services is responsible for ensuring that all hydrants on the right-of-way comply with the Fire Code, which includes regular hydrant inspections, maintenance, repairs, pressure/flow tests, tagging, marking, painting, and snow removal, it was noted previously.
Mayor Sherry Bondy originally brought up concerns with privately-owned hydrants when she sat as a Councillor.
Pride Flag to be flown August 9
Council approved Paul’s Anglican Church request that the Pride Flag be flown at the Essex Municipal Building on August 9, 2023, in support of Windsor-Essex Pride Festival.
It was explained that typically the flag is flown for the duration of the several day event.