Dear Editor:
RE: Leadership failure, Jan. 16.
Through an email to Centre Wellington’s clerk I quickly ascertained the reason for delay in bringing the revised Councillor Code of Conduct forward at council was that they were waiting for a response from the Integrity Commissioner (IC).
The IC was to review input from councillors resulting from the June 2019 meeting. Turnarounds in such instances can take months.
I understanding steps to move forward are in the works and councillors have been advised.
It is a misconception to think the revisions were staff-proposed. Staff were provided a template of a Councillor Code of Conduct directly from the IC. This included such updates as an informal complaint procedure.
Since the Councillor Code of Conduct is a provincial initiative the IC would review changes put forward from the municipal level. It is most likely there will be a requirement the Councillor Code of Conduct is largely consistent with those of other provincial municipalities.
Changes to procedures regarding advice from the IC or the complaint process would not be determined at the municipal level. These would be matters dealt with at the provincial level.
Teresa Gregg,
Fergus