West Grey will be working with a consultant over the next several months as it considers options to make changes to its local police service delivery.
Mayor Christine Robinson says this comes after council directed staff to proceed with a request for proposals in December 2021, which invited qualified police services to submit bids to deliver services in West Grey.
The municipality currently has its own municipal police force, the West Grey Police Service.
Robinson says the OPP and Owen Sound Police are working on proposals, which are due mid-September.
She says currently staff are reviewing the responses to an RFP for a consultant, while operating within a budget of $80,000.
Robinson says the consultant will be responsible for policing cost and proposals analysis and community consultation, which will occur later this year.
“We are anticipating the consultant will make a final presentation to council early January 2023. That will be the new council … and council will need to make their decision by spring of 2023,” says Robinson.
Robinson adds no decisions have been made as there will be a lot of information coming which will require careful consideration.
“This is a detailed process and it is important to afford the necessary time to appropriately work through the process,” says Robinson.