Newmarket council wants input on its code of conduct

YorkRegion.com
Sept. 2, 2015
By Chris Simon

Newmarket council wants your feedback on the policy it uses to conduct business.

The town will host an interactive public consultation session Sept. 16 regarding its council code of conduct. The discussion will cover several areas of the code, including inquiry and complaint procedures, remediation and discipline framework, conflicts of interest, charity events, social media usage and spouses and partners of council members.

"This is just ensuring we really are following best practices as a council," Councillor Christina Bisanz said. "This is important. We need to get good community input into what their expectations are."

The current code was enacted in 2007. It provides rules and standards of behaviour for members of Newmarket council.

"It's an opportunity for the public to provide comments on different themes related to the code," town clerk Andrew Brouwer said.

The objective is not to necessarily review language but to provide feedback.

The session will be facilitated by representatives from EthicScan, a third-party consulting firm selected as part of a Request for Proposal process. The firm is tasked with reviewing the current code.

This review process will also include a council workshop, research on best practices and a report to the town's committee of the whole, Brouwer said.

The session will be held at the Newmarket Operations Centre, 1275 Maple Hill Crt., at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit newmarket.ca or call 905-895-5193.