The Municipality of West Grey is proposing to spend $80,000 on a consultant following a council vote to take a costing from the Ontario Provincial Police.
West Grey council will meet on Tuesday, January 4th, and on that meeting's agenda is an item for $80,000 to hire a "Police costing consultant", which according to a budget request, is due to West Grey CAO Laura Johnston quote-"strongly advising council to budget for, and retain, a costing consultant to complete the cost and service level analysis of the OPP proposal in relation to the cost and service level currently provided by the West Grey Police Service."
According to the agenda, this follows consultation with municipalities that have gone through the OPP costing process, with Johnston noting that a consultant ensures "unbiased analysis in a complicated, specialized manner that requires specific expertise."
The agenda item also says it is "not appropriate of feasible for municipal staff to complete the costing analysis, as it requires specific expertise and impartiality."
West Grey council has yet to vote on hiring the consultant.
