Owen Sound Councillor John Tamming has been appointed to the City’s Police Services Board.
He replaces Councillor Marion Koepke who had served on the board for two years.
Councillor Richard Thomas nominated Tamming at Monday night’s meeting (Dec 14th) saying, “He’s demonstrated over the past two years on council that he has a keen interest in the police services and their operations and I think that if he were to consent to take this position he would represent us well as a council.”
Dep. Mayor Brian O’Leary nominated Keopke who recieved four votes. Tamming recieved five votes, with Mayor Ian Boddy being the tie breaker.
Tamming has been vocal about policing in the city, having called for a defunding of police this past summer, echoing similar sentiments that were being vocalized in the United States in particular.
That motion to defund the city’s police service by 30 per cent did not recieve any support from council and was voted down.
It would have seen council provide notice to the Owen Sound Police Services Board that it won’t approve any future city police budget above $7.5-million, while allocating those savings to tax savings and enhanced supports for the homeless, those with addictions and those with mental health challenges.
Tamming has also suggested the idea of performing another OPP costing review in Owen Sound.
One was done in 2017 and Council decided back then against a switch from Owen Sound Police to Ontario Provincial Police.
The proposed police budget for 2021 is $7.8-million, an increase of 2.73 per cent over 2020.
The year’s final Police Services Board meeting takes place today.
