[img_assist|nid=138|title=Jeff Earle, left, and Mayor Henderson|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=500|height=333]“Perfunctory” is one of those words we no longer use enough in conversation.

As in: “One would expect Brockville's study on regional policing would be a perfunctory affair.”

[img_assist|nid=5|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=500|height=413]The funniest moment in Tuesday's brief discussion of the looming council cut motion concerned, inevitably, the mayor.

[img_assist|nid=132|title=Mayor David Henderson listens via teleconference to OPP Sgt. Mike Milner.|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=500|height=333]On the subject of the Ontario Provincial Police dialling in the last contact committee meeting, I see retired city cop David Mitchell was also unimpressed.

In a previous post, I suggested the OPP's use of the teleconference model at their August 26 meeting was bad optics in a community that is, quite frankly, still being sold on the idea of trading in the city police for an OPP badge.

[img_assist|nid=134|title=Councillor Tom Blanchard listens to budget discussions Tuesday.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=500|height=409]This talk of cutting at city hall has a familiar ring to it, even if it is happening a little earlier in the year.

[img_assist|nid=132|title=Mayor David Henderson and committee members listen via teleconference to OPP Sgt. Mike Milner.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=800|height=533]

[img_assist|nid=3|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=500|height=234]The problem with big problems is people tend to look for big solutions.

Sometimes, though, the solution isn't a big solution, but a large accumulation of small solutions.

[img_assist|nid=100|title=Mayor Henderson, left, and planning concultant Michael Wright speak at a packed public meeting June 12 on the Tomlinson project.|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=500|height=367]When we posted our latest story last night about the aftermath of Brockville's Tomlinson decision, I tweeted the following:

[img_assist|nid=128|title=City police dispatchers, among the humans we like to talk to...|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=500|height=333]I do not wish to take sides in Brockville's ongoing policing debate. Let the OPP costing process continue, and let the hard numbers land where they may.

[img_assist|nid=126|title=Brockville blue|desc=Brockville Police Service Deputy Chief Lee MacArthur, left, Insp. Scott Fraser and Chief John Gardiner at the contact committee meeting Monday.|link=none|align=left|width=500|height=331]It may all come down to comfort level.

[img_assist|nid=124|title=City manager Bob Casselman, left, and Councillor David Beatty during the OPP contact committee meeting Monday.|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=500|height=405]Dear OPP skeptics: David Beatty is not out of control, and you should not hate him for joking about selling cop cars on eBay.