The Wellington Advertiser has uncovered allegations that Wellington North council, which last week announced the departure of its chief administrative officer, held secret meetings last year to discuss staffing issues.
A report from closed meeting investigator Norm Gamble is forthcoming, following an Advertiser-initiated investigation to determine whether four private meetings allegedly held by Wellington North council contravened the Municipal Act.
A source told the Advertiser the purpose of the meetings, held in January, March and June of last year and not disclosed to the public, was to discuss senior township personnel.
According to the source, one meeting was held at the Arthur sewage treatment plant and the other three meetings took place at the home of a council member.
Allegedly present at all four meetings was a consultant from Simon and Associates, the same firm hired in January 2012 to conduct senior staff performance reviews.
Gamble’s report, once completed, will be released to the township, which then must make public Gamble’s findings.
Under the Municipal Act, municipal councils are required to inform the public of meetings. In closed meetings, council is first required to have an open meeting, then declare the purpose for the closed session.
Earlier this year, when allegations of secret meetings first surfaced, the Advertiser contacted all five Wellington North councillors for comment, but received no response.
On May 14 Mayor Ray Tout confirmed four meetings were held last year to discuss senior staff. The first meeting, he said, was initiated by the township’s consultant.
Tout said there were “no resolutions, no minutes taken” of the meetings and “no agendas.”
“We were advised at the time there was nothing to worry about,” the mayor said, referring to advice from the consultant about keeping minutes of the meetings.
“There was no intent of any secret meetings. We were looking for guidance.” Tout confirmed the meetings led to a review of senior staff.
The secret meeting allegations come on the heels of the recent departure of CAO Lori Heinbuch, as well as two Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) rulings that stated the township did not follow proper procedures in its handling of a new development charges bylaw.
The OMB cases, which dragged on for over a year, saw resident Jens Dam served with legal papers alleging he defamed township staff.
The threatened lawsuit was never carried out and Tout eventually apologized to Dam.
More on CAO departure
Tout said deputy clerk Cathy More will be handling the day-to-day work done by former CAO Heinbuch until a successor is chosen.
Heinbuch departed as Wellington North’s top official early last week. Tout said he has since talked to staff about the departure of Heinbuch, who was with the township for 13 years and seven as CAO.
Originally the mayor would not confirm the details surrounding the CAO’s departure, stating in a May 7 press release only that she “is no longer with the township.”
However, when pressed the next day about Heinbuch, Tout stated “her termination is effective as of yesterday (May 7).”
He refused further comment on the departed CAO.
“It’s going to be business as usual,” the mayor said. “Cathy More is our deputy clerk. We will start the process of finding a qualified CAO.”
That process could take up to three months, the mayor added.
“I’ve got competent staff there. They need the opportunity to show what they have,” he said of work routines needed to fill the temporary gap. “Decisions had to be made.”
At the May 13 meeting, council decided to consider hiring a London-based consultant to assist with the process of finding a new CAO.
Councillor Andy Lennox said he was in contact with an official of N.G. Bellchamber and Associates and received a package on services the company provides.
Councillors will look over the package and decide at the June 3 meeting whether to hire the firm.
Tout said once a decision on the consultant is made, “the search begins” for a new CAO.
