Program & Service Updates

The Cobourg Public Library Board made the unanimous decision to close the Cobourg Library to the public effective immediately. 

During this temporary closure:

• Due dates will be extended on items that are currently checked out.
• Materials may be returned at the Cobourg branch drop box.
• Holds will continue to be held until the branches reopen, and there will be no charge for holds that are not picked up.
• All of our online resources will still be available, 24/7 and can be accessed remotely using your library card. Visit cobourg.library.on.ca to download ebooks, e-audiobooks, and use our online resources.
  
  Read the press release.

The Cobourg Police Service continues to receive updates from agencies regarding the  COVID-19 global pandemic. The Cobourg Police Service will monitor the health of all our employees so that we can continue to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our community. There has been no disruption in service, but we are planning for contingencies that may include impacts on staffing levels.

The Cobourg Police Service will be making the following changes to protect staff and members of the public to minimize transmission of the virus;

• Effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020 the Cobourg Police Station will be closed to the public.
• If you need to attend the Cobourg Police Station you may be subject to a non-intrusive screening process.
• When you call Police Dispatch, you will also go through a screening process regarding COVID-19 health risks. We understand that this may cause concerns, but this is for the safety of our members and the public.
• Effective immediately we will process some non-emergency calls over the phone instead of having an officer attend. This will be managed on a case by case basis by continued use of our tiered policing model.
• You may see some members of the Cobourg Police Service wearing protective equipment like masks or gloves. This will be for their own protection only. 

The Cobourg Police Service would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding. We would like to stress that there is no disruption in day to day activities and the Cobourg Police Service will continue to provide service to the Town of Cobourg.

The Firehall Theatre located at 213 Second Street has cancelled all shows, rehearsals, events and programs. 

The Box Office remains open but citizens are encouraged to please call (905) 372-0577 instead of coming in.

Lakefront Utilities has been closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and continues to observe Health Canada’s recommendations.  Our first priority is the continued safety of our employees and our customers. Public health officials continue to advise that social distancing is the most effective strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  As such, all Lakefront Utilities office locations (207 Division St. Cobourg, 25 Ewart St. Cobourg and 6 Darcy St. Cobourg) will be closed effective immediately to all outside visitors including customer walk-ins until further notice. 

Should you need to contact us, please email lusi@lusi.on.ca and one of our representatives will be in touch with you as soon as possible or use Live Chat on our website at www.lakefrontutilities.com  For outage reporting, please contact 905-372-2193.

Payment Relief

We recognize that this is a difficult time for everyone, and we want our customers to know that we are here to support them. As part of Lakefront’s commitment to customers, we have offered:

1. Increased payment flexibility to customers experiencing hardship. If you are concerned about paying your bill, or have been impacted by the pandemic, Lakefront wants to help. Please call us to discuss payment arrangements in order to provide more time to pay outstanding balances.
2. We understand the unique challenges for everyone, and some customers may have difficulty making their monthly payments. Effective March 16, 2020, Lakefront will be removing all interest charges on outstanding balances until May 31, 2020.
3. The Province’s winter hydro disconnection moratorium is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2020. Lakefront has extended the disconnection moratorium until May 31, 2020.

Time-of-Use Rates

The time-of-use (TOU) rates are set by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) and cannot be amended by Lakefront Utilities Inc. without consent from the OEB. Over the past few days, we have been working with the sector and government to champion the needs of electricity customers in Ontario. Lakefront has reached out to the Ontario Energy Board and has requested that they update the off-peak pricing to 24 hours while many families are practicing responsible social distancing.  

To make a bill payment: 

• Sign up for Pre-authorized payment by due date
• Visit the customer portal https://myaccount.lakefrontutilities.com/app/
• Telephone and online (internet) banking through your bank/financial institution
• Bank branch or financial institution instant teller
• Cheque via mail
• Credit Card payment service available through Paymentus - 1-888-896-0976 or this link: https://ipn.paymentus.com/otp/stde/lfu
• You may continue to use our drop box at all our office locations

Play Equipment & Play Structures

The Town of Cobourg would like to inform citizens that effective immediately all play equipment and play structures are closed as the entire community practices social distancing in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.

In order to minimize the spread of COVID-19, the Town is posting signage at all parks warning residents to keep their children off all play equipment/play structures. This equipment is not sanitized, presenting a risk to those using the equipment to contract or spread the virus.

Read the press release: Town Closes Play Equipment/Play Structures to Stop the Spread of COVID-19

Property Taxes

The following financial relief will be provided for Town of Cobourg taxpayers:

• A waiver of penalties and interest charges on unpaid property taxes which would normally have been applied on April 1stand May 1st.
• The due date for the second instalment of Commercial, Industrial and Multi-Residential property taxes due May 29, 2020 be deferred until June 25, 2020.
• The due dates for the Residential final tax bills which have not yet been issued will be set as June 25, 2020 and October 29, 2020.

Any taxpayers on the pre-authorized payment plan with concerns about paying their next payment due April 10, 2020 may contact the Finance Department at 905-372-8944 to discuss payment arrangements.

Provincial Offences Act Proceedings in Ontario

The Ministry of the Attorney General has notified the public of changes to Provincial Offences Act proceedings in Ontario.

All Provincial Offences Act matters scheduled from Monday, March 16, 2020 through to and including Friday, May 29, 2020 will be adjourned and rescheduled to a later date. If an individual has a matter before the Provincial Offenses court scheduled during this time they do not need to attend court. Notice of a new court date will be sent to the individual by mail, to the address on file with the court.

Aministrative offices for Provincial Offences Act (POA) matters in Northumberland, located at 860 William Street, Cobourg, have been closed to the public as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19. However, POA staff continue to provide administrative services such as processing of tickets, fines, and applications to the court.

Residents can connect with staff about these matters in the following ways:

General Inquiry

Phone: 905-372-3329 ext. 5300

Fax: 905-372-6529

Accessibility Inquiry

Phone: 905-372-3329 x5293

Fax: 905-372-6529

Email us

Residents are encouraged to pay tickets online, and to access online forms, by visiting Northumberland.ca/POA. 

860 William Street does remain accessible for other Ministry of the Attorney General/Ontario Court of Justice processes. Please note, all visitors are screened at the front entrance prior to being admitted access to the facility. 

Public Transit

Public transit will remain fully operational as an essential in the Town of Cobourg. Transit will be available at no charge until May 1, 2020 in an effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by reducing interaction with drivers, other transit commuters and the passing of change and tickets. 

The Town of Cobourg would like to remind citizens to only use public transit if absolutely necessary (medical appointments, groceries, pharmacy visits, etc.) as the entire community practices social distancing in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Drivers are monitoring the number of customers who board buses to reduce customer loads if necessary, further promoting social distancing. 

If you must use public transit please keep in mind the following important preventative measures: 

• Apart from those requiring the accessible ramp at the front door, all passengers are asked to use only the rear doors to board and disembark the buses
• Practice social distancing by keeping a minimum of 2 meters apart from the driver and other riders
• Minimize your interaction with the transit driver and refrain from sitting close to the driver
• All WHEEL riders must ensure their assistive devices are sanitized before boarding the bus

Transition House

Due to COVID-19, shelters are unable to operate at full capacity while meeting public health guidelines. An agreement between Kawartha Pine Ride District School Boar (KPRDSB), Northumberland County and Transition House will enable the County’s only emergency homelessness shelter to continue to support and house the homeless during this unprecedented time.

A temporary shelter, the first of its kind in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic, will be located at Cobourg Collegiate Institute, 335 King Street East.

Read the press release here.

The Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre has cancelled all seminars, programs and events including the booking of meeting rooms and the Lecture Hall.

The Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre is closed to the public.

VIA Rail continues to closely monitor the development of COVID-19 and we remain in close contact with public health agencies and the federal and provincial governments.

Effective Monday, March 23rd, VIA Rail has made service changes. View the updated services here.

Please also note that:

• Baggage service will no longer be available.

• VIA Rail’s Business lounges will be closed.
• Restaurants in VIA Rail owned stations will be closed and customers will only have access to vending machines where available. 

Effective Tuesday, March 17th, the Cobourg Police Station is closed to the public. This means that the Comfort Centre, the emergency cooling and warming room, will be closed as well.

Waste & Recycling Operations

Weekly curbside collection continues as scheduled. Northumberland County encourages residents to make use of curbside services to dispose of their day-to-day waste, recyclables and green bin materials.

As a precaution against the spread of COVID-19, the County’s Bewdley and Seymour waste transfer stations will be closed effective Wednesday, March 25th, and will remain closed until further notice.

The Hope Transfer station remains open to accept waste from Port Hope rural ward residents only. Residents are advised that only bagged garbage with proper tagging is accepted at this time.

The Brighton landfill remains open to accept waste from commercial customers and curbside collection trucks only; it is closed to the public.

Residents are asked to please continue storing Household Hazardous Waste materials in a safe place until this service returns to full operation. Seasonal Household Hazard Waste depot events in Cobourg and Seymour, planned for April 2020, have been cancelled.

Visit northumberland.ca/covid19 for complete details.

The Cobourg YMCA will be closed effective Sunday, March 15th until Sunday, March 29th (inclusive), at which point the situation will be re-assessed and an update provided on further action.

YMCA Day Camp and all YMCA Child Care programming will be closed from Monday, March 16th until Friday, April 3rd (inclusive).

Read the press release.