Accountability and Transparency

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Inglis Falls

Accountability, transparency and openness are standards of good government that enhance public trust. These principles apply to the political process, decision-making and to the administrative management of the municipality.

The principles of accountability and transparency are reflected in many Township policies and practices, of which include:

Strategic Plan - 2020-2024

Click here to view the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan

Council Expense Reporting

Compensation and expense reports for elected officials are available for public review. Please contact the Clerks Department for more information.

Click here to view the 2021 Council Remuneration.

Council Code of Conduct

On February 20, 2019, Township Council approved a new Code of Conduct, pertaining to Township elected officials, effective immediately upon passing.

In addition, Members of Council must adhere to a number of other laws and statutes, as well as Township by-laws, policies and procedures, which serve to support the Council's Code of Conduct. Click here to view the Council Code of Conduct.

Integrity Commissioner

The Integrity Commissioner performs functions with respect to the application of the Council Code of Conduct, along with any legislation, procedures, rules and policies governing the ethical behaviour of Township elected officials.

On February 20, 2019, Township Council appointed Principles Integrity, and it's principals Jeffrey A. Abrams and Janice Atwood-Petkovski as the Integrity Commissioner for the Township of Georgian Bluffs.

The Responsibilities of an Integrity Commissioner include:

Providing advice to Council on the Code of Conduct for Members of Council, Committees and Boards
Providing advice to Council on the development of procedures, rules and policies of the municipality governing the ethical behaviour of members of Council and local boards
Acting as a proactive educator for Council and local boards, administration and the public
Serving as an advisor to individual members of Council and local boards in relation to the applicable Code of Conduct and any procedures, rules and policies of the municipality governing their ethical behaviour, including the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act
Receiving and reviewing complaints about breaches of ethical behaviour including conflict of interest matters, and seeking an appropriate resolution in each case
Where it is in the public interest to do so, conducting formal investigations and making findings and recommendations to Council or the applicable local board
Providing periodic reports to Council, summarizing their activities and summarizing important developments in the field

Contacting the Office of the Integrity Commissioner

Members of the public wishing to submit a formal complaint should contact the Integrity Commissioner directly at:

Principles Integrity, Jeffrey A. Abrams and Janice Atwood-Petkovski
Administrative Office Address: 30 Haddon Street, Toronto ON M5M 3M9
E-mail: postoffice@principlesintegrity.org
Telephone: 647-259-8697

Note - Please review the Public Complaints Process prior to issuing your complaint to determine if said complaint is informal or formal in nature.

Integrity Commissioner Recommendation Reports

Recommendation Report - Included for consideration of Council at their meeting on October 7, 2020

Periodic Report - February 20, 2019 to February 28, 2021

Periodic Report - May 2021 to May 2023

Public Complaints Process

Administrative Complaints

We encourage all members of the public to communicate any and all complaints to the Township, in an informal manner prior to initiating the formal complaint process. Should you have a concern with staff, please contact the Township to communicate said concern or complete and submit the Township of Georgian Bluffs Complaint Form.

To make a formal complaint with the Ontario Ombudsman, please complete the Complaints about Municipalities form on the Ontario Ombudsman's website.

Council Code of Conduct Complaints

Any person or a representative of an organization who has identified or witnessed behaviour or an activity by a member of Council that they believe is in contravention of the Council Code of Conduct, may submit an informal or formal complaint regarding the witnessed behaviour.

Prior to submitting your complaint, determine if it should be dealt with formally or informally. We encourage all members of the public to communicate any and all complaints to the Township, in an informal manner prior to initiating the formal complaint process.

To submit an informal complaint, please contact the Clerks Department:

Carly Craig, Acting Clerk
ccraig@georgianbluffs.ca
519-376-2729 ext. 602

To submit a formal complaint, please contact the Township Integrity Commissioner, Principles Integrity:

Principles Integrity, Jeffrey A. Abrams and Janice Atwood-Petkovski

Administrative Office Address: 30 Haddon Street, Toronto ON M5M 3M9
E-mail: postoffice@principlesintegrity.org
Telephone: 647-259-8697

Closed Session Investigator

In 2018, Council received report LEG2018-43 - Contract with Local Authority Services Limited for Closed Meeting Investigation Services, by which Council acknowledged that Ombudsman Ontario would provide closed meeting investigation services to the Township, as per Section 239.1 (b) of the Municipal Act, 2001.

Should you have a concern regarding Township Council or Committee closed session meetings, where it is alleged that topics discussed in closed session do not comply with the Municipal Act, 2001, please contact the Clerks Department to submit an informal complaint at:

Carly Craig, Acting Clerk
ccraig@georgianbluffs.ca
519-376-2729 ext. 602

To submit a formal complaint, please contact Ombudsman Ontario and/or submit a complaint online.

Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario: 483 Bay Street, 10th Floor, South Tower, Toronto ON M5G 2C9
Email: info@ombudsman.on.ca
Telephone: 1-800-263-1830

Useful Resources:

Ombudsman Ontario

Municipal Act, 2001

Municipal Freedom of Information

The Clerks Department is responsible for processing inquiries made under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection to Privacy Act.

For more information, including information to submit your request, visit our Clerk's Department webpage.

Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario

Procedure By-law

The conduct of Council and Committee meetings is governed by the Township’s Procedure By-law, which is a requirement of the Municipal Act, 2001. The Procedure By-law provides rules of order for meetings, closed session topics and defines public notice requirements for Council and Committee meetings.

Click here to view Office Consolidation Procedure By-law.

Declaration of Pecuniary Interest

The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act requires members of Council to declare any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in relation to a matter under consideration. A pecuniary interest in a matter is one where there is a reasonable likelihood or expectation of financial loss or gain of the member or related persons as per the Act. The onus to declare a pecuniary interest rests with the member, with the opportunity to declare included in meeting agendas.

Changes to the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act require municipalities to maintain a registry of all declarations made under this Act. Effective March 1, 2019, members of Council who declare an interest will be required to complete a written declaration and submit said declaration to the Township Clerk for filing.

To view a hardcopy of the registry, please visit the Township Administration Offices at 177964 Grey Road 18 during regular business hours.

Additional details are available in the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, 1990.

Note - the registry will be updated following meetings of Council and Committees.

List of Declared Pecuniary Interest
Meeting	Council Member	Item Number	Interest Declared	Declaration Form
Council 11/20/19	Elizabeth Thompson	3	Provides accounting services to the Engineering Company operating the Biodigester.
Council 04/17/19	Ryan Thompson	6.b, 15.2.b	Ownership of property being rezoned - family bid on the agricultural property being leased.
Council 03/20/19	Ryan Thompson	12.2	Family was unsuccessful bidder for lease of agricultural property.
Council 05/22/19	Ryan Thompson	15.1.b, 15.1.c	Ownership of property considered for zoning amendment, ownership of property considered for zoning amendment.
Committee of the Whole 03/13/19	Ryan Thompson	8.8	Family has tendered a bid for the lease.
Committee of the Whole 02/12/20	Paul Sutherland	PL 2020.04	Family interest.
Committee of Adjustment 02/18/20	Paul Sutherland	1.c, 1.d	Family severance - severance of family-owned farm.
Council 02/19/20	Paul Sutherland	12.1.1, 12.1.2	Family ownership of property considered for zoning amendment.
Committee of the Whole 02/01/23	Rick Winters	5 / 5.1	Neighbouring property owner - impact on property value.	Completed Form
Council 02/02/23	Rick Winters	15.1.3	Abutting property owner	Completed Form
Committee of the Whole 09/06/23	Tobin Day	8.1.1	Longstanding personal relationship	Completed Form
Committee of the Whole 11/17/23	Rick Winters	6.1	Having been in discussions with applicant on advanced sewage treatment systems through existing employment	Completed Form
Committee of Adjustment	Cathy Moore Coburn	6.1.1	Decisions made could impact value of home/property as neighbouring home/property	Completed Form
Committee of Adjustment 04/16/24	Cathy Moore Coburn	7.3	Property in question may impact value of property	Completed Form
Committee of the Whole 04/17/24	Tobin Day	7.1.1 and 9.1.1	Longstanding personal relationship	Completed Form
Council 05/15/24	Cathy Moore Coburn	8.2.3	Potential adjustment in salary	Completed Forms

Township documents can be made available in an accessible format upon request.