(Peel Plaza Development)
(File Photo)
Common Council has voted by an 8 to 3 margin to approve spending 19.2 million dollars to build the new police headquarters at Peel Plaza. The province is contributing more than 2 and a half million dollars to the project which brings the cost down. Councillor Gary Sullivan voted in favour saying he has first hand experience of unsafe it is to have the police department located in the city hall building when he came in contact with a person who had threatened him and his family.
Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase, as expected, voted against saying it's not the right location and not the right time. Councillor Bill Farren also voted against saying he is concerned the city can't afford it. Councillor Peter McGuire voted in favour saying there is already interest being expressed by housing groups in developing the area after decades of inactivity. Mayor Ivan Court cautioned any further delay and the price would just rise as it has over the past four years.
Council was told more than 20 possible locations were looked at by the Police Commission.
