County council calls for county-led encampment management plan

Brookside Encampment in Cobourg. Photo by Dan Jones. Northumberland 89.7 FM News, LJI

Cecilia Nasmith

Northumberland County

County council has approved a staff report on a county-led encampment management plan that would clarify the roles of both upper- and lower-tier governments for these situations.

First debated at Northumberland County council's Social Services Committee earlier this month, the correspondence from the Municipality of Port Hope calling for a county-led Encampment Management Plan came before a full session of county council on Wednesday.

The correspondence calls for such a plan to provide for the human rights, health and safety of all residents and property owners, while clarifying the roles of upper- and lower-tier governments in such cases – the upper tier as the regional service manager and the lower tiers on complementary roles and responsibilities.

The motion to receive the correspondence for information was amended by Deputy Warden Olena Hankivsky – the Mayor of Port Hope – who wants to see a thorough staff report on the issue brought back to council.

“I think the general intent of the correspondence and the letter was to provide a clear road map of action so an encampment situation can be dealt with in co-ordination between lower tiers and the county,” Hankivsky said.

“We should have a strategic road map in place so everyone clearly understands roles and responsibilities.”

Thorough is the key word here, she stressed, including such details (for example) as whom to call if a situation arises on a Friday night.

And she hopes to see some guidelines on transportation - “how folks can get from, say, the Municipality of Port Hope to 310 Division St., should that be required.”

“Or, if that isn't in place, knowledge of that so we know there's a gap,” Warden Brian Ostrander agreed.