Carefully worded debate referred to legal considerations in scenarios where councillors did and did not attend, but Councillor Brian Darling pointed out that the evening of Nov. 7 is when Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf will be hosting a town-hall meeting – and Homelessness 101 runs from 6 to 8 p.m.

“A coincidence, I'm sure,” said Mayor Lucas Cleveland, saying he had committed to speaking at the police event.

Beatty expressed her understanding that the Homelessness 101 planning had begun (including the choice of date) last month, while the police event had been announced more recently.

“I respectfully disagree,” Cleveland said.