There’s some progress to report on police partnership discussions between Owen Sound and West Grey.
Coun. Brock Hamley asked during Monday’s council meeting about the status of talks between Owen Sound, West Grey, and the Owen Sound and West Grey Police Services boards.
Last year, Owen Sound council passed a motion to explore the potential implementation of joint municipal police services with West Grey, and also directed its city manager to have discussions with West Grey representatives, and the Owen Sound and West Grey Police Services boards to evaluate the feasibility, benefits and potential structure of a joint police force.
West Grey council passed a similar motion.
Owen Sound City Manager Tim Simmonds says he’s been working with both police chiefs, and senior leadership at West Grey over the past few months to create a draft “project charter.”
The draft charter and a report is expected to come before Owen Sound council next month, as well as a request to council to approve a new joint task force for the two municipalities.
Simmonds says the task force would bring additional governance and oversight, and allow more efficient continued police partnership discussions rather than coordinating meeting by meeting.
Owen Sound’s city manager says West Grey requested additional time to review the charter and have internal conversations.
He expects a report will be brought to Owen Sound council’s June 16 meeting.
“But we are waiting on West Grey at this point,” Simmonds told councillors.
