DAN CEARNS The Standard
SCUGOG: The Township of Scugog will be evaluating whether to keep a crossing guard at the intersection of Reach Street and Simcoe Street in Port Perry. Earlier this year, the township convinced the Region of Durham to fund a crossing guard at that intersection on a temporary basis while construction work on a stretch of Simcoe Street from Riverview Drive to Beech Street and Reach Street from Bigelow Street to Simcoe Street was done. The crossing guard was brought up at a council meeting on Monday, October 28th. “I just want to make a point that the people who have children who cross there are thrilled that we have it on an interim basis I guess at the moment. I would really like to see that kept if at all possible,” Ward 5 Councillor Lance Brown said. Carol Coleman, Scugog’s Director of Public Works, Parks and Recreation, responded, talking about the process staff will undertake. “We’re doing some counts of students, and we will compare it to our warrant system for crossing guards, and if it meets our warrant, then we will bring a recommendation to council to keep the guard,” she explained. Ward 1 Councillor Ian McDougall questioned if the crossing guard will remain in the Spring. “Only if it meets the warrant. Right now, we only plan to do it as long as the Region is paying for it, as long as the construction is happening this fall. We will make a decision before construction ends whether we will continue that or not,” Ms. Coleman said.