Councillor Mitch Panciuk addresses Belleville city council on his Integrity Commissioner motion, September 11, 2017 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Belleville has taken the first step in hiring an Integrity Commissioner to investigate complaints against council and local boards.
At city council’s meeting Monday, Councillor Mitch Panciuk introduced the motion to hire an Integrity Commissioner ahead of a move by the province to require such commissioners.
This would be a person to investigate complaints, and conduct investigations related to conflict of interest and the municipality’s code of conduct.
Following the meeting, Councillor Panciuk told Quinte News the decision to move ahead of the province had “a little to do with the recent conflict of interest court case against Mayor Taso Christopher” and he says it’s important to move forward.
Mayor Christopher was asked a similar question about whether or not his court case influenced the move.
Panciuk said many municipalities already have commissioners, such as Kingston, London, Ottawa and Port Hope and he borrowed his bylaw motion from the city of Kingston.
He said “We are elected to positions of privilege and we are expected to become aware of and adhere to all the rules. The conflict of interest rules are complicated.”
Panciuk said many municipalities have run into court challenges on the issue and the commissioner could eliminate the need for it to be brought before the Superior court and the need for residents to go to court. The commissioner could be shared with another municipality and could be paid out of the corporate services department budget.
City Clerk Matt Macdonald said most commissioners, but not all, are lawyers.
When questioned why go ahead of the province Panciuk said council could “be a leader in the community.”
Both councillors Jackie Denyes and Egerton Boyce expressed concern about giving the bylaw three readings immediately.
Council passed first reading of the bylaw for a solicitor’s review and a notice to public members on city boards.
The new requirements of Bill 68, which is just awaiting final assent, will be for each Ontario municipality to appoint a commissioner to investigate complaints, provide advice and conduct investigations related to conflict of interest and the municipality’s code of conduct.
