Joelle Kovach
@joellekovach.bsky.social
City hall reporter for The Peterborough Examiner (in Peterborough, Ontario).
YESSSSS, thank you.
December 2, 2025 at 9:56 PM
YESSSSS, thank you.
The notice of motion loses 4-7. Voting in favour were @alexbierk.bsky.social, @mattcrowley.bsky.social, @joylachica.bsky.social and Coun. Keith Riel.
December 2, 2025 at 3:57 AM
The notice of motion loses 4-7. Voting in favour were @alexbierk.bsky.social, @mattcrowley.bsky.social, @joylachica.bsky.social and Coun. Keith Riel.
He says they are "good leaders" when they show "genuine tolerance" and listen to one another - and give a chance for all to speak.
December 2, 2025 at 3:57 AM
He says they are "good leaders" when they show "genuine tolerance" and listen to one another - and give a chance for all to speak.
"Closing a debate should only happen when a conversation has truly tun its course," he adds.
December 2, 2025 at 3:57 AM
"Closing a debate should only happen when a conversation has truly tun its course," he adds.
"It simply adds clear structure to how calling the question is used," @alexbierk.bsky.social says.
December 2, 2025 at 3:57 AM
"It simply adds clear structure to how calling the question is used," @alexbierk.bsky.social says.
@alexbierk.bsky.social had talked with the late Ann Farquharson about this - and he's had this notice of motion drafted a long time - and in her honour, he submitted his motion to the clerk.
December 2, 2025 at 3:57 AM
@alexbierk.bsky.social had talked with the late Ann Farquharson about this - and he's had this notice of motion drafted a long time - and in her honour, he submitted his motion to the clerk.
So, instead they received the letter from the police services board, which explains they are not trimming their funding request. Only Riel, Bierk and Lachica vote against it.
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
So, instead they received the letter from the police services board, which explains they are not trimming their funding request. Only Riel, Bierk and Lachica vote against it.
He wants to see an "earnest" attempt at good faith...he's moving for the police board to resubmit a funding request that shows "demonstrated reductions" and "a clear explanation of where those savings have been found." But it loses 4-7 (voting along with Bierk were Riel, Crowley and Lachica).
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
He wants to see an "earnest" attempt at good faith...he's moving for the police board to resubmit a funding request that shows "demonstrated reductions" and "a clear explanation of where those savings have been found." But it loses 4-7 (voting along with Bierk were Riel, Crowley and Lachica).
"This is not unusual, it is not punitive, and it is not anti-police," @alexbierk.bsky.social says - he's looking more than "an outright refusal" to consider ways "to genuinely find savings."
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
"This is not unusual, it is not punitive, and it is not anti-police," @alexbierk.bsky.social says - he's looking more than "an outright refusal" to consider ways "to genuinely find savings."
Other cities like Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo Region and others are discussing this now, says @alexbierk.bsky.social
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Other cities like Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo Region and others are discussing this now, says @alexbierk.bsky.social
"I'll be blunt - I'm disappointed," @alexbierk.bsky.social says. He says the police board did not "read the room" or listen to the public, here, by having a 20-minute special virtual meeting.
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
"I'll be blunt - I'm disappointed," @alexbierk.bsky.social says. He says the police board did not "read the room" or listen to the public, here, by having a 20-minute special virtual meeting.
@alexbierk.bsky.social now presenting a "softer approach" asking to send the budget back and have them come back with "some savings." Rather than a specific reduction.
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
@alexbierk.bsky.social now presenting a "softer approach" asking to send the budget back and have them come back with "some savings." Rather than a specific reduction.
That motion from Riel loses 5-6. Voting in favour with Riel were Bierk, Crowley, Lachica and Beamer.
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
That motion from Riel loses 5-6. Voting in favour with Riel were Bierk, Crowley, Lachica and Beamer.
Riel is asking councillors to support him on this. He's asking for a saving of $1.75M that would bring the overall tax increase to about 6%, he says.
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Riel is asking councillors to support him on this. He's asking for a saving of $1.75M that would bring the overall tax increase to about 6%, he says.
Riel questions whether they need a police recruiter, for instance, when they seem to be doing just fine attracting officers to hire (I might add I've heard @ptbochiefbetts.bsky.social say this planned job position would be tasked with recruiting, amid an anticipated wave of retirements to come).
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Riel questions whether they need a police recruiter, for instance, when they seem to be doing just fine attracting officers to hire (I might add I've heard @ptbochiefbetts.bsky.social say this planned job position would be tasked with recruiting, amid an anticipated wave of retirements to come).
Riel thinks they ought to ask for "what you need, not what you want."
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Riel thinks they ought to ask for "what you need, not what you want."
He sits on boards - such as Fairhaven - that are coming in at 3% more, for example, yet police are not being asked to adhere to a certain increase. Public health came in at 5%, he adds, when they could have used more.
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
He sits on boards - such as Fairhaven - that are coming in at 3% more, for example, yet police are not being asked to adhere to a certain increase. Public health came in at 5%, he adds, when they could have used more.
Riel says there was a 20-minute virtual meeting in response to this, and then the police board gave city council "the proverbial middle finger."
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Riel says there was a 20-minute virtual meeting in response to this, and then the police board gave city council "the proverbial middle finger."
Riel now moving for the police budget to be returned to the police services board; he wants them to be asked to bring it in at a 7% increase (rather than 9.22%).
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Riel now moving for the police budget to be returned to the police services board; he wants them to be asked to bring it in at a 7% increase (rather than 9.22%).
We're taking a bio break. Beamer claims we will wrap up business by 11 p.m. I doubt this, but let's see.
December 2, 2025 at 3:18 AM
We're taking a bio break. Beamer claims we will wrap up business by 11 p.m. I doubt this, but let's see.
Carries 10-0 (Haacke did not vote - he declared pecuniary interest because his real estate firm had been involved in the land purchase).
December 2, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Carries 10-0 (Haacke did not vote - he declared pecuniary interest because his real estate firm had been involved in the land purchase).