The council debate on whether to switch from municipal policing to the OPP in West Nipissing was testy at times. Before the final vote council debated whether residents should be allowed to decide the matter through a referendum. But Councillor Guilles Tessier objected to that saying there was no referendum when hydro and ambulance services were changed. Tessier says it’s ironic that council now wants a referendum. Council voted 6-2 to switch to the OPP with Mayor Joanne Savage and Councillor Jamie Restoule opposed. Both argued West Nipissing would not get the same level of service under the OPP and also questioned if there would really be savings by 2026.