Aurora residents can file complaints with integrity commissioner March 1

Council approves new code of conduct for council, committee, board members

Yorkergion.com
Feb. 27, 2019
Teresa Latchford

Next month Aurora residents will be able file a code of conduct complaint directly with the town’s integrity commissioner.

Through the Modernizing Ontario’s Municipal Legislation Act, the province has mandated all Ontario municipalities, including the Town of Aurora, have a code of conduct in place for council and local boards and provide access to an integrity commissioner to review alleged violations of the codes by March 1.

Back in December, council approved the appointment of Principles Integrity as the integrity commissioner for the town, which has since drafted the council code of conduct and local board's code of conduct.

While a code of ethics is currently in place for how members of council should conduct themselves, it does not contain any tools to deal with alleged complaints of violations to that code and doesn’t meet the requirements of a code of conduct set out by the province’s legislation.

The code of conduct must deal with gifts, benefits and hospitality, respectful conduct, handling of confidential information and use of municipal property.

The rules will not just apply to members of council but extend to all town advisory committees and local boards, with the exception of the Aurora public library board that is governed by provisions in the Public Libraries Act.

Come March 1, residents will be able to file a complaint through the town’s website by visiting a page dedicated to the code of conduct and integrity commissioner. From there, an electronic form can be filled out and submitted directly to the integrity commissioner.

“Depending on the type of complaint received, the integrity commissioner will initiate either the informal complaint procedure or the formal complaint procedure,” town clerk Michael de Rond said. “The information procedure will likely lead to a quick resolution, while the formal procedure may involve an investigation and take days or weeks to conclude.”

A formal investigation may result in a report being presented to council including recommendations on how to resolve the complaint, even if it is just to “clear the air,” he added.

A provision in the code also allows the integrity commissioner to declare a complaint “frivolous and vexatious” and decide not to investigate.
The guiding principles of council’s code of conduct include:

1. Council shall serve the public and their constituents in a conscientious and diligent manner.
2. Council should be committed to performing their functions with integrity impartiality and transparency.
3. Council shall perform their duties in office and arrange their private affairs in a manner that promotes public confidence and will bear close public scrutiny.
4. There is a benefit to municipalities when members have a broad range of knowledge and continue to be active in their own communities, whether in business, in the practice of profession, in community associations and otherwise.

Specific rules under the code speak to conflicts of interest, gifts, benefits and hospitality, expenses, confidential information, use of town resources, election campaigns, use of influence, business relations, conduct, media communications, respectful workplace, employment of family members, reprisals and obstruction and acting on advice of the integrity commissioner.