Category: News 2018

Cobourg’s West Beach

John Draper

When the report on the Waterfront eventually gets released, it will no doubt include something about Cobourg’s natural West Beach.  Let’s hope it recommends that it’s mostly left alone.  Popular with residents and little known by visitors, it has recently had three benches added to the boardwalk.  For several years, the Cobourg Beach Society was a volunteer organization that tried to get some action on extending the boardwalk the full length of the beach (all the way to Cobourg Creek) but two years ago it folded.  It did have some left-over funds and it worked with the Town to use those to pay for building the benches.  The Town used its own staff and wood salvaged from trees that had… Read complete articleCobourg’s West Beach

CTA Blasts Council for Process Failures

John Draper

At Monday’s Council meeting, Cobourg Taxpayers Association President Lydia Smith strongly criticized Council’s failure to follow its own Public Engagement policy.  She used as an example the recent decision to approve a Waterfront Playground although she said it also applied to the decisions on the New Amherst School and re-zoning of 394 College Street.  Her key evidence was a slide showing the timeline for the Waterfront Playground.  Her slide showed that this project came out of the Waterfront study which had its first workshop in April 2017 then multiple workshops and public meetings from then till October.  During that time “there was no public mention of the proposed water playground or solicitation for input”.   “In fact, the water playground is… Read complete articleCTA Blasts Council for Process Failures

Adam Bureau to run for Council

John Draper

Adam was the first person to file papers today to run for Council at the election on October 22, 2018.  In a Press Conference in front of Victoria Hall, Adam talked about his work for Cobourg as DBIA Chair  and how he “cares about the citizens of Cobourg”.  He said he would bring a new perspective and that it’s time for a change.  He said “let’s do this together”.  He also introduced Bill Patchett who is a strong supporter of him and will help with fundraising.  In his Press Release, Adam said that he sees this “role to be a natural progression from my past volunteer and professional work  … Community involvement is something I value deeply, and it is… Read complete articleAdam Bureau to run for Council

Council Remuneration Report

John Draper

At the Council meeting tonight, the chair of the Council Remuneration Ad Hoc Committee Terry Stopps presented his findings.  The goal was to provide potential Councillors with an indication of what they would be paid before they applied.  So the recommendation was just in time – tomorrow (May 1st) is the first day that potential candidates for the upcoming election in October can file their application to run.  The committee of citizens met to consider what the compensation should be and they came up with a basis for a decision. They looked at remuneration in 20 comparable towns and decided to recommend the median of what they paid.  When asked “why the median?” Terry said that it was fair and the… Read complete articleCouncil Remuneration Report

Police to support Legion Pipe Band

John Draper

Cobourg Police are continuing to expand their community work and they wanted a Pipe Band.  Who better than the Cobourg Legion Pipes and Drums?  At an awards dinner at the Lions centre last Wednesday, Chief Kai Liu announced the new partnership.  Police will provide the band with new kilts in the recently approved Cobourg Tartan (see link below) and will provide other ongoing assistance. The Band will retain their affiliation with the Legion but will have two official names: The Cobourg Legion Pipes and Drums (and as band member Lorrie Krebs put it) “but when needed, we are Cobourg Police Services Pipes and Drums”.  Apart from a new tartan, they will also use a newly labelled drum with the new name…. Read complete articlePolice to support Legion Pipe Band

Fire Department Activities Q1 2018

John Draper

Cobourg’s Fire Chief Mike Vilneff gave his first quarterly report to Council on Monday.  The department has been getting busier each year but he did not ask for more staff – current staff levels are published online – see “About Us” link below.  Currently the Cobourg Fire Department consists of a Fire Chief, a Deputy Chief, a Fire Prevention Officer, an Emergency Planner, an Administrative Assistant, 12 full-time firefighters and, at full complement, 16 volunteer firefighters. The immediate staff concern is that 3 captains will be retiring in the next 12 months. Mike spelled out what jobs the Department does – firefighting, fire prevention services, public fire safety education, automobile extrication, medical assist, confined space rescue, hazardous materials response, water… Read complete articleFire Department Activities Q1 2018

New Amherst School – Re-Zoning up for Approval

John Draper

The gallery at the Committee of the Whole Council meeting on Monday was full with some people standing.  They were there to express their concern about the planned school in New Amherst and, if their efforts failed, to show concern about the process used to come to a decision on the necessary re-zoning.  The School will be built by the third school board with schools in Cobourg: Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenier – this is a French Language School and not French immersion.  Students must be fluent in French. There was a public meeting in March that got heated (see link below) so there was no surprise when the issue came to Council.  To counter the expected opposition, both the developer… Read complete articleNew Amherst School – Re-Zoning up for Approval

Downtown Bicycle Race Details Approved

John Draper

In February, Greg Rawson asked Cobourg Town staff for permission to stage a Criterium Bicycle race in Downtown Cobourg.  Staff have now approved a route and date – no doubt subject to Council approval – that are different from the original.  The route now includes King and Albert instead of Chapel and King.  It also includes the heart of Downtown.  The date is now Saturday August 11.  See the map below – full details for participants are also available for download in the Links below.  Criterium races are on a short loop course (1km) so cornering skill is important and they promise to bring excitement to Downtown Cobourg.  Greg is also organizing a more conventional bicycle race starting in Baltimore… Read complete articleDowntown Bicycle Race Details Approved