No Contract between the Town and the local RCMP?
LUTZ E. BECKER
Wolfville, NS.
June 06, 2009
Town of Wolfville
Ms. Rachel Turner
359 Main St.
Wolfville, NS
B4P 1A1
Dear Ms. Turner:
Re: My FOIPOP request dated Jan. 23, 09 – the Town’s answering letter dated Feb. 17, 09
My request was directed at a contract or provisions of the Town with the local RCMP detachment. I had expected contractual statements regarding
LUTZ E. BECKER
Wolfville, NS.
June 06, 2009
Town of Wolfville
Ms. Rachel Turner
359 Main St.
Wolfville, NS
B4P 1A1
Dear Ms. Turner:
Re: My FOIPOP request dated Jan. 23, 09 – the Town’s answering letter dated Feb. 17, 09
My request was directed at a contract or provisions of the Town with the local RCMP detachment. I had expected contractual statements regarding
· policing roles and duties, servicing goals, responsibilities of the parties involved
· number of officers on duty
· use and necessary renovations of the provided premises
· number of police cruisers (who pays for these? who maintains them?)
· details concerning the compensation for the officers incl. medical and other benefits,
overtime payments
· duration of contract (who has the authority to terminate the contract and when and under
· duration of contract (who has the authority to terminate the contract and when and under
what conditions can it be done? when did the contract begin and when will it end?)
· complaint procedures
· evaluations of police services
· services on week-ends and holidays
· amendments of the contract since 2000
· total yearly costs
· base for yearly cost increases
The material I was provided with is not this kind of contract covering any or all of the points outlined above. What I got in response to my request is insufficient and entirely different.
I would like to ask the Town to consider a re-imbursement of my paid FOIPOP fees. I may have to re-phrase my questions and maybe address them to a different public office.
I regard the provided document copy between the Province of Nova Scotia and the Town of Wolfville as a very generalized and overall RCMP framework. In it the Town was allowed to enter the existing and eight years old Nova Scotia Provincial Police Service Agreement (PPSA), dated February 27, 1992, in June 2000 with the signatures of Stead and Brideau.
None of the points as above is outlined and/or detailed in the provided framework copy. And I was not provided a copy of the PPSA.
During a recent Council meeting, when you were sitting in for the CAO, you stated publically that nothing else but this framework copy between the Province and the Town exists at Town hall governing, directing and controlling the provided RCMP services in Wolfville.
I have a major problem to believe that.
Considering the fact that the Wolfville tax payer will have to come up in this budget year with proposed costs of $1,042,425.00 (an increase of $51,318.00 over and above last year’s police expenditures) for RCMP services or 14.7% of the Town’s drafted total yearly budget figure and that these payments should become based on nothing but a framework copy between the Province and the Town is more than ridiculous.
During my investigations into the minutes of 1999 and 2000 I found entries like:
· Policing roles and Responsibilities Agreement – Request for Decision
· Changes have been made to the Agreement (as above) including addition of a title page,
· complaint procedures
· evaluations of police services
· services on week-ends and holidays
· amendments of the contract since 2000
· total yearly costs
· base for yearly cost increases
The material I was provided with is not this kind of contract covering any or all of the points outlined above. What I got in response to my request is insufficient and entirely different.
I would like to ask the Town to consider a re-imbursement of my paid FOIPOP fees. I may have to re-phrase my questions and maybe address them to a different public office.
I regard the provided document copy between the Province of Nova Scotia and the Town of Wolfville as a very generalized and overall RCMP framework. In it the Town was allowed to enter the existing and eight years old Nova Scotia Provincial Police Service Agreement (PPSA), dated February 27, 1992, in June 2000 with the signatures of Stead and Brideau.
None of the points as above is outlined and/or detailed in the provided framework copy. And I was not provided a copy of the PPSA.
During a recent Council meeting, when you were sitting in for the CAO, you stated publically that nothing else but this framework copy between the Province and the Town exists at Town hall governing, directing and controlling the provided RCMP services in Wolfville.
I have a major problem to believe that.
Considering the fact that the Wolfville tax payer will have to come up in this budget year with proposed costs of $1,042,425.00 (an increase of $51,318.00 over and above last year’s police expenditures) for RCMP services or 14.7% of the Town’s drafted total yearly budget figure and that these payments should become based on nothing but a framework copy between the Province and the Town is more than ridiculous.
During my investigations into the minutes of 1999 and 2000 I found entries like:
· Policing roles and Responsibilities Agreement – Request for Decision
· Changes have been made to the Agreement (as above) including addition of a title page,
disclaimer clause and sidnature page; Appendix „B“ will be added to the final document
· Policing Services Strategic Goals – Request for Decision
· Altenate Policing Services Study Group – Final Report
· RCMP proposal of August 09, 1999 passed to the Study Group
When I then had asked Annette D. for more specific information regarding these entries (additional reports, documents, notes, minutes etc.) she told me – or was ordered to tell me – that nothing would exist anymore and that it is the Town’s policy to destroy everything after seven years of storage.
In general such a rule is understandable but for sure it would not be followed through regarding living and ongoing contractual relationships like the one between the Town and the local RCMP detachment where about $1,000,00.00 and more will have to be paid yearly.
Please, revise your public statement.
Sincerely,
Lutz E. Becker
Cc/ Voices of Wolfville
· Policing Services Strategic Goals – Request for Decision
· Altenate Policing Services Study Group – Final Report
· RCMP proposal of August 09, 1999 passed to the Study Group
When I then had asked Annette D. for more specific information regarding these entries (additional reports, documents, notes, minutes etc.) she told me – or was ordered to tell me – that nothing would exist anymore and that it is the Town’s policy to destroy everything after seven years of storage.
In general such a rule is understandable but for sure it would not be followed through regarding living and ongoing contractual relationships like the one between the Town and the local RCMP detachment where about $1,000,00.00 and more will have to be paid yearly.
Please, revise your public statement.
Sincerely,
Lutz E. Becker
Cc/ Voices of Wolfville
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