Council Approves Major Changes to Parking Rules

John Draper

After discussion in both the relevant standing committee meeting and the regular Council Meeting on March 25, Council modified the changes suggested by Staff but still ended up with some major changes. Mayor Cleveland was not happy and voted against the changes in the final vote – he wanted free parking like Port Hope has. But other councillors and staff said that Cobourg is different because of the waterfront so Lucas was outvoted 5-1. (Councillor Adam Bureau abstained because of the conflict with his business on King Street). Last minute changes included adding a pass for Northumberland County residents and restoring the 12 hour limit (instead of three hours) for residential streets. But the biggest change is that the first… Read complete articleCouncil Approves Major Changes to Parking Rules

Cobourg’s Financing Being Reformed

John Draper

In May 2025, Director Adam Giddings issued a Financial Sustainability report. This laid out a plan to ensure the Town of Cobourg would be properly financially managed in future. But as KPMG pointed out in earlier reports, Cobourg has serious problems including unfunded projects adding up to $12.48M. “Unfunded” means that the money has been spent on projects but it has simply been withdrawn from the Town’s bank account with no source identified such as a debenture, grant or tax levy. In a “Financial Status report” at the next Council Meeting on 25 March, Director Adam Giddings describes the issue: “A comprehensive review of the Town’s long standing accounting and budget processes, uncovered significant financial challenges, particularly concerning the capital… Read complete articleCobourg’s Financing Being Reformed

Operational Action Plan – 2025 and 2026

John Draper

In 2024, CAO Tracey Vaughan started the concept of an “Operational Plan” to provide specifics of what staff would do to implement the generalities in the Strategic Plan. Progress on the plan has been put online on the Operational Plan Program Dashboard plus there are reports to Council on progress each quarter. At the Corporate, Finance, and Legislative Standing Committee meeting on March 12, Kara Euale, Manager, Office of the CAO, will present both the 2025 Q4 update and the plan for 2026. These plans include a lot of detail but some items are worth noting.  At the end of 2025, 63% of projects are complete and “projects not completed will be carried over to the 2026 plan”. That’s not… Read complete articleOperational Action Plan – 2025 and 2026

Major Changes Proposed in Cobourg Parking By-Law

John Draper

At the Community Services, Protection, and Economic Development Standing Committee meeting on March 11, Brent Larmer will present a plan to simplify parking rules, restrictions, fees and fines across Cobourg. Instead of dividing parking regulations between Waterfront and Downtown, they will be differentiated by season – high season (May 15 to September 14) and Low season (rest of the year). Further, in Low season there will be extended free parking but in High Season there will be no free parking on streets or Municipal lots and rates will be significantly increased. Despite discounts being offered to residents, it’s hard to see how this would be acceptable to Downtown Businesses since residents would likely avoid downtown during the high season. This… Read complete articleMajor Changes Proposed in Cobourg Parking By-Law

Council Approves Donating Land for Affordable Housing

John Draper

Three years ago, a group called Northumberland Sleeping Cabin Collective proposed building cabins on surplus Town Property adjacent to the Furnace street Arena. That idea was eventually shelved but at their meeting on 25 February, 2026, Council approved donating the land to another entity – Northumberland Workforce Housing – so it could be used to build “below market-rate” housing. The land is 23.5m x 44m or about a quarter acre and has been declared surplus to Town needs – see map below. Councillor Miriam Mutton estimated its value at about $250K (or maybe even $500K) and said that we should not give away other people’s land. As a compromise, she suggested a 20 year lease but her motion was defeated… Read complete articleCouncil Approves Donating Land for Affordable Housing

Cobourg Council Approves Increased Salaries

John Draper

Perhaps inspired by the recent big jump in Council salaries in Port Hope, at the Cobourg Council meeting on 25 February, Council approved their own increase. Although he voted against the changes, Mayor Cleveland got the biggest increase although the changes are not effective for this Council – they become effective in December 2026, after the election in October. As well as salary increases, Council approved restoring the honourarium for service on the Police Board plus a $150 per diem for attending unscheduled Special and Emergency Council meetings. There was considerable debate on the subject but there was a consensus that some kind of increase was needed. A suggestion by Councillor Miriam Mutton for different numbers – mostly a lower… Read complete articleCobourg Council Approves Increased Salaries

Acting CAO Glenn Dees leaving County

John Draper

After 17 years with Northumberland County, Acting CAO Glenn Dees is leaving for a “new Professional Opportunity”. This is effective March 13 and the announcement is full of praise for his contribution (see Resources). It’s hard not to compare his departure with the curt announcement of the previous CAO, Jennifer Moore, who left in September 2025 with zero notice and minimal praise for her work (see Resources). These departures come at a time when Cobourg’s Mayor Lucas Cleveland has been criticizing the County’s handling of their responsibility for Social Services and especially homelessness. He has asked the County Council to review the performance of the Social Services Department but they deferred his request to be handled by the incoming CAO… Read complete articleActing CAO Glenn Dees leaving County

By-Law Enforcement Report for 2025

John Draper

At the Community Protection and Economic Development Committee meeting on 11 February, the Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing Services (MLELS) department reported on their activity for 2025. Otherwise known as By-Law Officers, they enforce 34 Town by-laws and administer various regulatory licences and permits.  Current Staff under Director Brent Larmer consists of a Manager (Kevin Feagan), one Coordinator, one Administrator and six full time Municipal Law Enforcement Officers. (More below). Enforcement is mostly on a complaint (that is, reactive) basis although there is some proactive enforcement – see appendix 2 of this year’s report (available in Resources). The first report of activities in this department was for 2022 so comparisons can be made for four years. I have also included… Read complete articleBy-Law Enforcement Report for 2025

Mark Mills to run for Council

John Draper

This year is an election year for Ontario Municipalities with an election to be held on 26 October.  The first date for officially registering to run in the election is May 1 but candidates can announce their intention at any time – and Mark Mills has now announced his intention to run.  Mark ran in the last election in 2022 and narrowly missed winning but over the coming months he now intends to give residents the opportunity to get to know him.  See Resources for information on Cobourg Municipal Elections (including previous results) and also for Mark’s full announcement. I expect that at some point, Mark will publish a “platform” and I will publish this and statements of other candidates as… Read complete articleMark Mills to run for Council