By Cecilia Nasmith

When Northumberland County opens the doors on a prospective shelter at 310 Division St., Cobourg's mayor hopes an agreement will be in place with the town on its operation.

Taking a moment Tuesday at the inaugural meeting of council's Strategic Priorities and Policy standing committee, Mayor Lucas Cleveland announced the community engagement process the county has organized to hear public input.

There are two in-person sessions on Jan. 11, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and from 5:30 to 7 p.m. If you want to speak, he noted, you have to pre-register.

Virtual sessions are planned for Jan. 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 26 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Cleveland stressed that these are “very, very important discussions and (I would) further direct anyone looking to support my personal position as representative to the county – that we stress we are looking for an agreement between the county and Cobourg regarding the operation.

“I think, moving forward, the best way forward is for everyone in the community to look for an official agreement between upper tier and lower tier regarding the 310 Division St. operation,” he said.

“I want to make sure everyone in the public has these dates circled and marked, and make the time to ensure they are registered.”