Confidentiality Critical to Protect Taxpayers
A joint session of Regional Council and Niagara Regional Police Services Board to hear presentation on site recommendations for new Police Headquarters from Joint Committee on Police Accommodations
Niagara Region, March 3, 2010 - A joint meeting of Niagara Regional Council and the Niagara Region Police Services Board will hear recommendations on a short-list of sites identified for the new Police Headquarters from the Joint Committee on Police Accommodation on Thursday.
Peter Partington, Chairman of Niagara Region, and Larry Iggulden, Chair of the Niagara Region Police Services Board, hope to ensure that the recommendations in the staff report presented at the closed session meeting remain confidential. Premature release of the short listed sites could cost taxpayers because the cost of those properties could increase based on the public knowledge of the recommendation.
"It is critical that confidentiality of the short-listed sites be maintained to enable Niagara Region and the NRPSB to negotiate the best price for the identified properties on behalf of taxpayers," said Regional Chairman Peter Partington. "Given the scale and cost of this project, anything that further adds to its cost is contrary to the best interest of taxpayers."
Police Services Board Chair Larry Iggulden said: "The Niagara Region Police Services Board, along with Chief Southall and her executive team, have been working diligently to ensure the right site for a Police Headquarters is selected from the various site options. Both the Service and Regional staff believe that protecting the confidentiality of the information provided and the decisions that may flow from that information is absolutely critical to ensure that we are able to maximize potential savings in any future negotiations for the acquisition of the preferred site.
Niagara Region and the Niagara Region Police Services Board were able to avoid a costly OCCOPS hearing in September, 2009. Since then, a lot of work has been accomplished to jointly develop the short-list of sites for the new Police Headquarters. Key among the accomplishments was the development of selection criteria for the site of the new facility based on adequate and effective policing and planning principles.
The Joint Committee's recommendations were based on reports from consultants working on behalf of Niagara Region and the Niagara Regional Police Services Board . The consultant team includes consultants that had worked independently for each of the Niagara Region and Niagara Region Police Services Board. The combined consultant team helped to facilitate the agreed short-list of sites.
"The site of the new Police Headquarters is an important issue for all residents of Niagara," Peter Partington continued. "However, maintaining confidentiality should assist us to negotiate the best possible price in the interest of all taxpayers."
The upcoming closed session meeting may not result in a recommendation to proceed with the acquisition of a particular site. As a result, it's expected that the confidentiality of possible sites will continue until a final site selection is made.
For More Information, Contact:
Peter Partington
Regional Chairman
905-984-3600
Larry Iggulden
Board Chairman
Niagara Regional Police Services Board
905-685-0321
