Update: This recommendation was approved by Council at their December 7, 2020 electronic meeting.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) is looking for Council support to submit a bid to the Municipality of Leamington to take over their policing services.
The CKPS are set to submit a proposal (RFP) on Friday December 11, pending on an endorsement by Council at the Monday, December 7, 2020 electronic meeting.
“Recognizing that we must keep the terms of the proposal confidential, very few particulars/details will be shared with Council (Monday) evening, as we do not wish to provide an unfair advantage to other bidders during this process,” CKPS Chief Gary Conn said in a staff report.
“That being said, it is expected that both the CKPS Board and CK Council will have the opportunity to approve the final contract after the details have been finalized and before the contract is binding.”
Conn said back on Thursday, September 10, 2020, the Corporation of the Municipality of Leamington issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) “in respect to policing services” for their municipality.
The RFP is a “robust documentation” containing 22 pages and broken into seven sections, Chief Conn said.
“Over the past two months, the Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) along with the assistance of two consultants have drafted and prepared a proposal. Our proposal contains the level of service proposal requirements and we have set out the costs for said services. The cost for our services further includes a cost breakdown of all annual ongoing operational and capital costs, along with one-time initial start-up costs. Subsequently, all direct and indirect costs have been accounted for.”
Conn said the CKPS is proposing to submit this bid, which has already been endorsed by the Chatham-Kent Police Services Board, but requires approval from Municipal Council.
“Under the Ontario Police Services Act Section 6.1(1) indicates that the councils of two municipalities may enter into an agreement for the provision of police services,” Conn said.
“If CKPS is successful with their bid, then we will enter into negotiations with the Municipality of Leamington to finalize a contract.”
Prior to entering into an agreement with Leamington, Chief Conn will be back before Council with final negotiated terms, a staff report indicates.
“We have a number of conditions and caveats included in this bid to ensure Chatham-Kent is able to negotiate the detailed terms before being bound to provide the service,” Conn added.
Further consultation during the submission and negotiation stages of the process will be
discussed in closed session with Council, a staff report indicates.
Monday’s Council meeting is set to begin at 6 p.m.
It can be LIVE streamed, here.
