Mayor Robert Quaiff. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
The County could be getting tougher on how it deals with complaints after a councillor wrote an editorial to a local newspaper last week criticizing council’s decision to downsize.
In his letter to the editor of the Picton Gazette, Sophiasburgh councillor Bill Roberts stated why he opposes what he calls the inappropriate status quo, or the “Status Quo Lite” 9-Ward proposal. – The plan was approved on Tuesday.
Roberts said in his view, neither of these options reflects the clear majority will of County residents as expressed in multiple ways since 2008 — including ballots, surveys, and robust questionnaires.
“In addition, neither of these flawed options — the out-dated status quo or its “Lite” version — met the criteria that Council itself overwhelmingly established with regard to process; and both were rejected by every measured public consultation mechanism available,” said Roberts. “Lastly, and perhaps most gallingly, the previously rejected Status Quo Lite 9-Ward option quite literally “ambushed” our promised Council process and circumvented agreed procedure — while also performing the doubly disrespectful feat of ignoring the hard work of our professional staff who had done the tabulating and research, and were thus inclined to the vastly more popular 3-ward, multiple Councillor option.”
To read the full letter click here.
When it comes to communications and media relations the current policy reads: Councillors will accurately communicate the decisions of County Council, even if in disagreement with the decision, in a manner that maintains respect for the decision making processes of Council.
Roberts wasn’t in attendance at Thursday’s committee of the whole meeting and Mayor Robert Quaiff wouldn’t comment on whether or not it was Roberts’ actions that fueled his decision to bring the motion forward.
The motion will see the code of conduct policy beefed up to a by-law and call on an integrity commissioner to come in and investigate formal and informal complaints.
Not being specific on any councillor in particular who violated the current code of conduct policy, Mayor Quaiff tells Quinte News that there has been some recent activity that warrants giving a little further substance to the policy.
“This gives it more strength and that by-law will contain a formal and informal mechanism to deal with that code of conduct.”
The mayor has no comment on if Roberts will be reprimanded for his actions.
During the meeting, Quaiff told the gallery how he emailed council this past weekend.
“I sent the email not to be a threat but I was putting everyone’s best interest in place,” he said. “I asked everyone not to reply to email. I even considered suspending all emails on the thread until we get a code of conduct by-law in place.”
The mayor would not divulge the contents of the email to Quinte News.
As it stands now, complaints are taken to the mayor as he is the CEO.
“I shouldn’t have to take a councillor in my office and act like a school principal,” the mayor went on to say. “I think a commissioner might make us act more professional.”
Sophiasburgh councillor Kevin Gale spoke up and said he can tick off six items that have been violated since the code of conduct policy has been brought forward.
“And it’s not just emails and letters,” Gale said before suggesting the municipality get a legal opinion on the proposed by-law.
A report on the by-law is due back at a later date.
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