A town hall meeting Tuesday night with Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland will include a question-and-answer opportunity, but the public should not expect answers about the encampment set up at the former Brookside Youth Detention Centre property due to an ongoing investigation.

The property, located on King Street East, is on provincial lands and is overseen by Infrastructure Ontario. The encampment has been set up there since early September.

Mayor Cleveland made a statement to Northumberland 89.7 and noted it was approved by the town’s legal counsel. The location of the encampment isn’t within the Town of Cobourg’s jurisdiction, but the mayor said officials are investigating IO’s responsibilities as a landlord.

“Property owners that own property within the Town of Cobourg have a legislative responsibility for the people that enter their property and the activities that occur on their property. The Town of Cobourg, on the other hand, has the authority under various provincial laws to pass municipal bylaws to restrain certain activities that contravene provisions contained within its municipal bylaws.”

The mayor said the town will not be answering any further questions while the matter is under investigation.

Tuesday’s meeting - A Year in Review: a Conversation with Mayor Lucas Cleveland - is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cobourg Community Centre’s Rotary Sports and Performance Hall gymnasium. Mayor Cleveland will make a presentation and then address as many questions as possible during the time permitted. Questions can be asked live or submitted in advance. 

Listen to the audio report below: