Belleville City Council approved a recommendation to implement changes to its procedural by-laws after the city’s Integrity Commissioner found that the city breached the Municipal Act.
The recommendation was brought forward to council at its meeting on Monday.
This stems from a complaint regarding a contentious piece of land near Jane Forrester Park, at 41 South John Street.
Originally, it was recommended the property be declared as surplus, with a plan to transfer the land to a neighbouring home, while not seeking compensation.
Council reversed course on the decision at its May 11 meeting following public backlash.
In Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian’s report, he found council breached the Municipal Act by voting on the property in-camera, which means not open to the public.
Boghosian recommended that the procedural by-laws by updated to ensure that votes on a matter considered in a closed session be done in an open session.
Councillor Kelly Henderson commented on the report.
“I’ve had some assurances from the Manager of Realty and Property Services, Diane McFarland, the Director of Corporate Services and People, Marie Doherty, and CAO Matt MacDonald, and I feel confident that we will be resolving this, and we shouldn’t see this happen again,” Henderson told council.
As part of the recommendation, the changes will be implemented at the next meeting of council.
