March 2, 2015
Attention: RCMP Police Advisory Boards in Nova Scotia
On January 15, 2015 the members of the Nova Scotia Association of Police Governance (NSAPG) met with representatives from the RCMP Advisory Boards in Halifax to put together a plan for the Advisory Boards to have membership in the NSAPG. This initiative is strongly supported by the Nova Scotia Department of Justice as this will give all policing boards’ one voice when dealing with the Department and the Minister of Justice.
Your support of the goals and objectives of the NSAPG will be greatly appreciated. The challenges & complexity of policing in Nova Scotia continues and the NSAPG will continue to promote municipal policing in its’ dealings with the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association and the Minister of Justice. We hope that our membership in the Canadian Association of Police Governance, and our liaison with other Public Safety organizations will allow us to champion the views of Municipal Police Boards and Advisory Boards in Nova Scotia and gain valuable information that we can pass on to our member Boards.
Other benefits of joining the NSAPG include the annual conference in September that we hold in conjunction with the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association. This allows for networking with many departments across the province. We hope you will consider joining the NSAPG as we move forward. Your membership form is included.
Yours in policing,
Councillor Lisa Emery Vice President, NSAPG
March 2, 2015
Description of Service Rate Amount Due
Annual NSAPG Membership $200.00 $200.00 Fee September 1, 2014 – August 31,2015
Please make cheque payable to “Nova Scotia Association of Police Governance” and forward it to the following address:
NSAPB, c/o Mr. Pat Cappello, 45 Exhibition Drive Bridgewater NS B4V 0A6
NOTICE REGARDING BYLAWSAND DUES:
1. At Present we have made room for 1 RCMP Advisory Board member to join our board. When we receive membership from Advisory Boards we can let the PABs decide who will represent them for the rest of this year. 2. In September there will be the conference in Truro where changes can be made to bylaws during the AGM at the end of the conference. Changes will include how many members of the PABs will be part of the main NSAPG board representing all PABs in the province. 3. We are looking at using the UNSM Regions that were approved by the UNSM Board on February 3, 2012 to divide the province into districts that will have one PAB representative sit on the main NSAPG board. 4. During the last year’s AGM it was decided to bring the PABs into the NSAPG and have them pay dues of $200 a year. It is also being considered to raise that to $400 a year at the beginning of the 2015-16 term in September. This too can and will be discussed during the AGM in September 2015. Only one member from each area can vote on these possible changes. 5. Proposed changes to the bylaws must be in by June 30th of each year to be distributed before the annual AGM and discussed and voted on during the AGM in September.
OTHER NOTES:
This year the September Conference will be held in September in the Town of Truro. Upon receipt of membership more information will be sent out to you. We also have information on how to join the national board (CAPG) as well and that can be sent upon request.
Finally, thank you for your patience. It has taken a while to pull all the information together and sort out how to move forward. We are looking at hosting a meeting with the NSAPG and all Advisory Boards again sometime in early May. We will get back to you with a date, time and location.
Yours in Policing,
Councillor Lisa Emery VP and Secretary NSAPG
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING AGENDA January 15th, 2015 WESTIN HOTEL, HALIFAX NS BEDFORD ROOM 9:00 am TO 12:00 pm 1. Call to Order & Attendance (9:05 a.m.) Introductions were made by all 40 people in the room. A sign-up sheet was sent around for contact information. Chief McNeil, Truro: The Chiefs have a long history of working with the boards as a resource to the boards. We are the only province that works together. We have a common goal of putting public safety forward on provincial agendas together. 2. Additions/Deletions to the Agenda: Justice Appointees to Boards, MOU and Research Question. Motion: Moved by Mike Moreash and seconded by Pat Cappello to approve agenda with additions. Motion carried. 3. Declaration of Conflicts None 4. Minutes – November 4th, 2014 NSAPG Meeting in Halifax Motion: Moved by Mike Moreash and seconded by Nola Folker-Hil to pass the minutes. Motion carried. 5. Correspondence None 6. Business Arising from the Minutes of meetings held in September and November a) Meeting with the Minister of Justice just before the conference: Action Item from this meeting was to get Board and Advisory Boards working together. Also, get the MOU information from Fred Sanford. b) Policing & Public Safety Committee Update from Greg MacArthur and/or Fred Sanford: A format with both municipal boards and advisory boards to bring local issues forward to DOJ.
c) Police Standards Committee Update from Mike Moreash and/or Fred Sanford: This committee which has members from both municipal boards and advisory boards meets and goes over proposed policies to standardize all policing units in the province. Chief’s wanted provincial standards for their protection. There are too many different guidelines to follow especially regarding taser usages. d) RCMP Reps on NSAPG At present there are 10 representatives one from each municipality with a municipal police force. At present we are looking for one representative from the Advisory Boards as per the Bylaws. This can be changed with an email vote by the NSAPG. There was discussion on perhaps having three RCMP representatives on the NSAPG representing the regions of ( SWNova, NENova and the CBRM) Right now Mike Moreash represents both Municipal Police and RCMP for HRM. Resolutions and Nominations should be sent in by May. Another possibility is having a Council of Board Chairs. Need: Terms of Reference for all committees (Police Standards and Public Safety). WE will send out an invoice and membership form to all boards. A package including a bit of history of the NSAPG and the benefits of having membership and the minutes of this meeting. Also, a possible position paper on the next steps. e) Online Board Training Fred Sanford There is a training session online for both municipal boards and RCMP Advisory Boards. Call 902-424-3355 and let them know which training session you wish to take. f) Bylaws of NSAPG Bylaws have been brought up to date as of January. There will be future discussion on the cost of RCMP Advisory boards. At present $200 but future discussion may move dues up to $400 an year. This would be done during the AGM in September.
g) Conference summary 2014 from Walter Rutherford and Truro in 2015 President read the summary. There was also discussion on the CAPG conference for 2015. Go to CAPG website for more information. h) NSAPG AGM minutes from September 2014 (Information only)
9. New Business a) Shared Services (Pat Power on the phone from Annapolis Royal) Tabled. b) Justice Appointees: Fred Sanford, There is no way to speed up the process. All appointments have to go through and be approved by the Executive Council. These terms are for three years and the person can reapply for another term by sending in a letter to the Executive Council. The notice for these appointments goes into the Chronical Herald along with other government appointments to boards. There are police background checks done as well. You can get posters from Fred Sanford regarding Justice Appointments to display at Town Halls. These people do not submit reports to Justice and if you have trouble with attendance from a provincial appointee contact Fred Sanford.
c) MOU: Nola Folker-Hill, This was a document signed by the Towns and the DOJ. All parties including the Chiefs, Boards and Advisory Boards would have to be in agreement in order to change the MOU. This document would have to be sent to Chiefs and brought to RCMP Advisory Boards for consensus for the NSAPG to bring this discussion to the Minister as a single voice. Issue: If a town removes police personnel to lower than the force size in 2009 they will lose their seconded officers one for one. Also need feedback from the UNSM and the AMA. Needed: a proposal to amend the MOU. d) Research: the use of sworn officers to chaperone people at the hospital and the possible use of volunteers of police services to do this job. 10. Sundry 11. Next Meeting: May, 2015 possible around the time of the UNSM Spring Conference at White Point. 12. Adjournment at 11:30 a.m. Motion: moved by Pat Cappello and seconded by Lisa Emery. Motion carried.
Approved September 20, 2014
BY-LAWS OF THE
NOVA SCOTIA ASSOCIATION OF POLICE GOVERNANCE
DEFINITIONS
Boards – a Municipal Police Board or a Police Advisory Board
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
To establish a provincial body to express the views and positions of Municipal Police & Police Advisory Board Governing Authorities. To provide a means for the collecting and sharing of information and discussion of matters relating to policing. To create a formal network for the dissemination of information relating to the governance of policing. To consider matters of Provincial interest which affect policing and to formulate policy positions and appropriate responses at the policy making level for dissemination to government and the public on such matters as: Drug and substance abuse policies Sentencing policies Young offenders Communication policies Employment equity Minorities, the alienated and disadvantaged Recruitment & retention of women and minorities Policing standards Community oriented policing Regional policing To comment on social, economic, cultural and legislative questions; particularly of provincial concern which affect the quality, efficiency and cost of policing. To promote the quality and uniformity of policing services and to encourage greater cooperation among Policing Services and the Federal, Provincial and Municipal levels in Canada, including the Canadian Association of Police Governance. To educate the public on matters relating to governance of policing services. To act as a lobbying group to liaise between the Provincial and Municipal governmental authorities and the Provincial Solicitor General. To provide a forum for participation by all civilian governors of policing services and other agencies to promote and encourage greater cooperation to serve the interests of the public and to advance criminal justice and promote common policies.
MEMBERSHIP
Municipal Police Boards & Police Advisory Boards at an annual membership fee of $900.00 (HRM & CBRM) and $400.00 for all remaining Police Boards. Membership dues will be set at the AGM each year and are payable by December 31st of that year.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
Other Police & Justice groups at an annual membership fee of $200.00
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year for the NSAPG shall be September 1 in any given year to August 31.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of the NSAPG shall be held in conjunction with the annual joint conference of the NSCPA & NSAPG. A quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be a minimum of ten (10) Police Board Members of a member Police Board, representing at least six Municipal Police Boards, one of which must be HRM or CBRM. At each Annual General Meeting the following items of business shall be dealt with: Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting Consideration of the annual report of the President Consideration of the financial statement and new budget Consideration of resolutions Election of Board for the ensuing year, if needed Other business raised from the floor
VOTING PRIVILEGES
Each member Police Board, in attendance, at the meeting, shall be entitled to one vote. The Police Board voting member shall be identified prior to the start of the meeting.
BOARD MEETINGS
Meetings of the Board shall be as determined by the Executive, with a minimum of three meetings per year. A quorum for all Board Meetings shall be a minimum of five (5) Board members.
MAKE-UP OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall be comprised of one (1) member from each Municipal Board and one (1) member from a Police Advisory Board. To serve on the Board of Directors the individual must be a member of a Municipal Police Board or Police Advisory Board who’s Board is a member of the NSAPG.
NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A Call for Nominations shall go out from the NSAPG, by May of each year, to all member Municipal Police Boards & Police Advisory Boards. No nominations for election to the Board of Directors may be made from the floor at the Annual General Meeting, unless there is not a full slate submitted. If an election is required at the Annual General Meeting it shall be by secret ballot.
ELECTION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a one year term. Vacant Board of Director positions that occur after the Annual General Meeting shall be filled by appointment of the remaining Board of Directors as a result of a call for interest to eligible Police Boards.
ELECTION OF NSAPG EXECUTIVE
The Board of Directors shall, at their first meeting, elect from among themselves Directors to fill the following positions: President, Vice-President, Secretary & Treasurer.
BY-LAW CHANGES
Proposed changes to the NSAPG By-laws can take place in the following ways:
1. Fall Conference AGM a) Proposed changes must be submitted to the Board by June 30th of each year. b) All proposed changes will be circulated to the membership prior to the Conference AGM. c) Changes to the By-Laws must have the support of at least 50% of the Municipal Police Boards, one of which must be either CBRM or HRM.
2. Special Email AGM a) In special circumstances, as determined by a unanimous motion of the Board, proposed changes may be submitted to the members by way of email. b) Each Board will vote on the proposed changes and submit the results of the vote to the President. c) For changes to be passed there must be a 2/3rds vote of support from member Boards. d) Support must include at least 70% of Municipal Board members, one of which must be HRM or CBRM.
UNSAM REGIONS – APPROVED FEBRUARY 3, 2012
CAPE BRETON – STRAIT AREA REGION
Municipality of Inverness Municipality of Victoria Town of Port Hawkesbury County of Richmond Town of Mulgrave District of Guysborough District of St. Mary’s Town of Antigonish Municipality of Antigonish
CUMBERLAND/COLCHESTER/PICTOU/EAST HANTS REGION
Town of Stewiacke Municipality of Colchester Municipality of the District of East Hants Town of Oxford Town of Parrsboro Town of Springhill Municipality of Cumberland Town of Pictou Town of Trenton Municipality of Pictou
SOUTH SHORE – HRM REGION
Town of Mahone Bay Town of Lunenburg Municipality of the District of Chester Municipality of the District of Lunenburg Region of Queens Municipality
SOUTH WESTERN SHORE REGION
Town of Digby Town of Clark’s Harbour Town of Lockeport Town of Shelburne Town of Yarmouth Municipality of Argyle Municipality of Barrington Municipality of the District of Clare Municipality of the District of Digby Municipality of the District of Shelburne Municipality of the District of Yarmouth
VALLEY REGION
Town of Berwick Town of Bridgetown Town of Hantsport Town of Middleton Town of Windsor Town of Wolfville Municipality of Annapolis Municipality of Kings Municipality of the District of West Hants
Note: The Towns that are already part of the NSAPG are not on this list as they already have representatives. During the next AGM we will consider using this chart and having 5 new representatives (one from each region) sit on the NSAPG board of Directors. The representatives in each region can select/elect their representative. Plus each region can have their own meetings in the future and bring issues through their representative to NSAPG board meetings.
As you can see this is a big job connecting all of this together. Everything will be discussed and finalized during the AGM in Truro in September. We can also discuss this during the possible meeting in May. Again, thank you for your patience as we move forward in policing. If I have missed a municipality please feel free to contact me and let me know so I can add you to the lists above.
Thank you,
Councillor Lisa Emery VP and Secretary NSAPG