Increased security measures are being recommended for the Chatham-Kent Council Chambers at the Civic Centre in Chatham.
“Recently, there has been incidents where the public has made verbal threats and had physical altercations with Council members and staff,” said Rob Pollock, director of parks, fleet and facilities, in a staff report.
“These situations have created safety concerns for Council, staff, and the public that attend the meetings.
Council is set to vote on the following recommendations at their Monday, April 29, 2024 meeting:
– The reconfiguration of the Council chambers (shown here) be approved.
– The amount of $29,615.04 for the project be funded from the Buildings Lifecycle Reserve.
– The cost for Municipal security be funded as a variance from the 2024 facilities operating budget.
– A business case for the funding of ongoing security services be brought forward for consideration in the 2025 Budget.
Pollock said these incidents in Chatham-Kent are not isolated, as municipalities across Canada have faced similar or more extreme occurrences of public disruption and intimidation.
“In one extreme incident in Edmonton, public safety was undermined when an active shooter forced the evacuation of the building,” Pollock said.
“The City of Windsor had an incident in May 2023, when a disruptive individual refused to leave Council Chambers which preceded a call for a new policy to prevent unreasonable behaviour at city hall and other city-owned facilities. The policy prohibits behavior that is “frivolous, vexatious or unreasonable.” There is also police presence at their meetings to keep members of council, administration, and the public safe and to enforce rules about decorum.”
Pollock said the security guards will be allowing the public into the Civic Centre building starting at 5:30 pm.
He said members of the public will be given a visitor badge, which needs to be worn while in the building and given back to security when leaving the building.
“Staff, Council, and the media will have to present their municipal badges to get into the facility,” Pollock added.
“Security will be present in the building for the duration of the meeting. Security will be able to remove anyone that is in violation of the Procedural By-law. This will ensure that there is a safe and welcoming environment for items to be discussed and for the public to be present.”
Pollock said the reconfiguration of the Council chambers is necessary to create a physical barrier between members of the public and Council/staff.
“This will ensure that members of the public have an area to sit to attend Council meetings while ensuring increased safety of Council and staff,” he said.
“The reconfiguration also adds additional seating for the public in the Council chambers. Based on the proposed reconfiguration, there would be an increase to 69 public spaces in total in the chamber.”
Read Pollock’s full report, here.
Monday’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Civic Centre in Chatham.
