Animosity between the CEED Centre in Haney and its immediate neighbours spilled into council chambers on Tuesday.

Tyler Ducharme, who lives next door to the CEED Centre, raised 19 questions about the non-profit at the council meeting, promising to email them to council before leaving the meeting.

He asked about the District’s policy on squatting on District property, and housing people with communicable disease such as staph. He also wanted a definition of a drop-in centre, and wondered if someone is always at the CEED Centre during posted hours.

Ducharme also asked about supervision of people staying on CEED Centre property, about uninsured vehicles, and whether it’s the centre’s responsibility to make sure people aren’t staying on the property.

“The issue is clear, [it’s] the safety of my family,” he told The TIMES.

Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin said he hasn’t had any complaints “in general” about the CEED Centre, and that any organization that engages volunteers and gets people involved in the community is a positive thing.

But he said Ducharme seemed to have a “level of frustration.”

“I guess he’s trying to prove a point,” Daykin said.

Staff will endeavour to answer Ducharme’s questions, Daykin said.

The CEED Centre’s executive director Christian Cowley said tents that have been set up have been off the CEED Centre property, and the centre has given the RCMP permission to remove anyone trespassing on the property.

Questions:

1. What is the District policy when it comes to individuals squatting, or setting up tents on District Property?

2. What is the District policy around housing individuals with communicable disease such as staph infections on District Property?

3. Define drop in center as it relates to the lease agreement with the ceed society?

4. Is there always someone in charge of the ceed center during posted hours of operation?

5. In the event that liability is not covered by the ceed center’s insurance policy will the District be held liable?

6. The ceed center appears complicit in allowing individuals to set up tents and take up residence on the property they lease from the city, is this an action that the District approves of?

7. Is the District aware of any instances where the ceed center has encouraged or allowed individuals to stay overnight on the leased property?

8. When tents are set up and individuals are undertaking extended stays in the back area is there anyone supervising these individuals?

9. When individuals are undertaking extended stays at the ceed center, for example they have set up tents and those tents are in place for several weeks, what washroom facilities are

these individuals using?

10. Is it the responsibility of the ceed center to ensure the property does not have individuals staying for extended periods of time to the point where they set up tents and other structures?

11. Does the current insurance policy taken out by the ceed center cover individuals to stay overnight or have extended stays?

12. In the past there was a light on in the back area of the ceed center, why is this light no longer used to illuminate the back area?

13. What is the District policy regarding uninsured vehicles on District land?

14. Aside from contacting the police when acts of violence are erupting, or threats are being uttered from individuals living at the ceed center what other options will the District put forward to

ensure the safety of my family?

15. Is there a long term plan to keep the gates of the ceed center locked?

16. What is the long term plan for the ceed center?

17. Why is the lot that the District leases to the ceed society zoned C3 – commercial development?

18. Why is a society that is not based out of the community of Haney running what is listed on the District website as a community center?

19. Whose responsibility is it to ask individuals to leave the ceed center property after hours?