Council Meeting Information

The Municipality shall ensure that requests for investigations submitted under Section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended (the Act) are dealt with in a fair, open and expeditious manner.

The Municipality shall provide the information requested by the Municipal Closed Session Investigator (Investigator), either written or through interviews, to assist the Investigator in his/her investigations.

The Municipality shall ensure any report received from the Investigator related to an investigation under the Act, is placed on a public agenda and that consideration of such reports are conducted in an open public session of Council and/or a Standing Committee of Council.

This procedure applies to all appointed Boards and Committees of the Municipality with the exception of the Police Services Board and the Public Library Board.

Investigator

The Municipality is using the Ontario Ombudsman as the Municipal Closed Session Investigator. The Ombudsman will conduct investigations upon receipt of a complaint to determine compliance with the Act or the Municipal Procedural By-law and to report on the result of such investigations.

Procedure

Members of the public, including corporations, may submit complaints to the Investigator relating to compliance with the Act or the Municipal Procedural By-law for meetings or part of meetings that are closed to the public. All complaints will be treated as 'confidential' at all times.

Complaints shall be submitted to the Ombudsman electronically at www.ombudsman.on.ca; by telephone at 1-800-263-1830; by fax at 416-586-3485; by mail at Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario, Bell Trinity Square, 483 Bay Street, 10th Floor, South Tower, Toronto ON M5G 2C9. The Complaint Form may be downloaded from the Ombudsman's Website at www.ombudsman.on.ca.

Council Agendas are prepared by the Clerk's Department to provide council members with comprehensive information that will be referenced in upcoming meetings. Council Minutes are also prepared by the Clerk's Department to outline and summarize the events of council meetings, including the outcomes of items discussed.

Draft motions are prepared in advance of the meeting for every item on the Council Meeting Agenda.  These are drafted using staff recommendations and historical proceedings.  Council Members must move and second the draft motion prior to it being discussed by Council. Council may decide to pass the motion, defer the motion or defeat the motion.  Once a motion is approved by a majority of Council it becomes a Council Resolution.