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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2013-10-10, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013. PAGE 9. Legal counsel to be sought for CH integrity issue By Cheryl Heath Special to The Citizen Central Huron Council is holding off on appointing an Integrity Commissioner following some heated comments delivered during its Oct. 1 session. Councillor Brian Barnim said he was deeply disturbed to see that the appointment of an Integrity Commissioner was on council's agenda. "How did this happen?" asked Barnim. Central Huron Chief Administrative Officer Peggy Van Mierlo-West said the recommendation came after council adopted a Code of Conduct in July. Since then, she said, two complaints have been lodged, and the Integrity Commissioner would be entrusted to investigate the matters. Barnim questioned how the Integrity Commissioner was hired, to which the CAO noted there is a policy in place that allows senior administrators to make decisions up to a given dollar amount. Barnim insisted it is up to council to decide whether an Integrity Commissioner is hired. The CAO said administrators do have some discretionary dollars for consulting fees. She said the issue is the complaints. "I am about to make it three because you do not have authority to do this. You did not have the approval to do this. Why are you sending him a $2,000 retainer?" asked Barnim. Barnim told the CAO confidentiality has been broken on the matter. "You've broken the confidentiality of this already. You've gone to someone who is unapproved and yes, I have spoken to a lawyer," said Barnim. Councillor Alison Lobb expressed support for the recommendation. "From my perspective, I'm happy," she said. "You keep sticking up for things that don't make sense," chastised Barnim. Councillor Alex Westerhout said his concern is council was supposed to review complaints. "I do think this was done inappropriately," he said. Barnim asked if more than just the mayor had reviewed the two complaints and when the CAO said she knew of two, he replied: "It was not supposed to go to you so thank you for confirming that." While Mayor Jim Ginn said an Integrity Commissioner should comment on the matter, Deputy - Mayor Dave Jewitt said as soon as you have council choose an Integrity Commissioner, confidentiality has been broken. Barnim said he is angered by the $2,000 that appears to be given to the proposed commissioner as a retainer. "We know we're starting at $2,000," said Barnim. While the CAO said the $2,000 is to review the matter and that any investigation after that is on an hourly rate, Barnim called the situation a "farce." Mayor Ginn said staff have the authority to handle such matters and the "bottom line is we need an appointed Integrity Commissioner." Councillor Marg Anderson asked about the prices of other Integrity Commissioners to which the CAO noted they are all in the same ballpark and only one, Greg Stewart who already works with the municipality on some matters, does not request a retainer. Councillor Westerhout said a legal opinion on the matter should be heard before a commissioner is appointed while Barnim asked who would be paying the commissioner who has begun investigating. Meanwhile, Councillor Dan Colquhoun said he could not support the appointment because it was not vetted first. In a recorded vote, requested by Barnim, council voted against hiring the Integrity Commissioner with Councillors Barnim, Colquhoun, Westerhout, and Anderson opposed and Ginn, Jewitt and Lobb in support of the recommendation. Huron East looks to have LED discussion By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen After a letter from Brussels resident John Lowe and discussion at a recent level of service meeting, Huron East Councillor David Blaney wants all of Huron East under a new LED streetlight plan. The letter from Lowe came with specific reference to Brussels and its inadequate streetlighting. The discussion went even further when the topic was raised at Huron East Council's Sept. 24 level of service meeting. At council's Oct. 1 meeting, Blaney made a motion to bring LAS, a subsidiary of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) to make a presentation on the feasibility of an LED streetlighting plan. Blaney said he picked LAS specifically for its affiliation with AMO and past experience with the company. The motion was eventually expanded to include LAS, or any other company, a change which councillors agreed to. Due to current municipal staff workload, however, Chief Administrative Officer Brad Knight said it is unlikely that the presentation can take place before the end of the year. The motion was then tailored to meet staff's timeline. MacLellan said that the presentation, which will take place at a public meeting, should happen sometime in the first quarter of 2014. Knight said that he and other staff members would be meeting with LAS in the next few weeks, privately, to discuss a number of issues and that the seeds for the meeting Blaney wants could be sown then. Council passed the motion and the date of the presentation will be announced at a future meeting. gave >i 2eaa Let everyone know about your new bundle of joy! Call for prices and details 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 The' Citizen Councillor Burkhard Metzger was absent. During a later question period, Mayor Ginn told The Citizen he was not sure where council's decision will leave the two complaints that have been lodged. He said legal counsel will likely need to be consulted. When asked whether it would be difficult for council to review complaints that may be about peers, Ginn noted the current policy states that the mayor and deputy -mayor should first review them. An Integrity Commissioner would automatically come into a scenario where a complaint was lodged against the mayor or deputy -mayor, which Deputy -Mayor Dave Jewitt earlier noted was a confidentiality breaker in itself. The CAO's report noted the appointment of an Integrity Commissioner will ensure all complaints are answered in an efficient manner with the appointment requiring a resolution from council each time one is used. Getting dolled up While the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority's annual fall colour tour featured a birds of prey demonstration and a self -guided tour of the grounds, it also featured face -painting, which Ana Gibbons, right, was more than happy to take advantage of. Danielle Dobbyn did the painting as, despite Sunday's weather not co-operating, the tour was well attended. (Jim Brown photo) See histories and historic photographs on the Huron History section of our website www.northhuron.on.ca Manicures C 406 Mill Street (corner of Dinsley & Mill), Cv0191457,* ssen" tials Blyth ` 519-523-4793 www.spaessentials.com Wingham and District '\ Hospital Foundation Dear Loyal Donors, • • Health Care esr) (r> C,. (F Her 11YCE THANK YOU! Your generous support of the CKNX Healthcare Heroes Radiothon over the past ten years has raised more than $900,000 for the Wingham & District Hospital Foundation. We hope to continue this great tradition of generosity at this year's Radiothon. With your continued support we know we will be able to meet our 2013 goal. Kind Regards, Russ Taylor, Board Chair Wingham & District Hospital Foundation 2013 Radiothon Goal: $90,000 for the purchase of an Operating Room Table and Stretchers Donations can be sent to: 270 Carling Terrace, PO Box 1228, Wingham, ON, NOG 2W0 CKNX Healthcare Heroes Radiothon October 19, 2013 Listen live from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 101.7 The One, AM920 and 94.5 The Bull