Wellington North has adopted a code of conduct for council members.
The eight-page document was approved by council without discussion at the June 23 meeting.
A preamble to the code states, “Attaining an elected position within one’s community is a privilege that carries significant responsibilities and obligations. Members of council are held to a high standard as leaders of the community and are expected to become well informed on all aspects of municipal governance, administration, planning and operations. They are also expected to carry out their duties in a fair, impartial, transparent and professional manner.”
The stated purpose of the code is to ensure council members fundamentally understand:
– the proper operation of democratic and representative municipal government requires that they be independent, impartial and responsible to the people;
– there are open and proper channels for decision making and approval of policies;
– conflicts between private interests and public responsibilities are unacceptable and must be avoided; and
– as leaders of the community, they are held to a higher standard of behavior and conduct.
Probation completed
Council passed a resolution acknowledging the successful completion of a probationary period by Wellington North CAO Mike Givens on June 23.
Council, at its March 17 meeting and at the urging of councillor Andy Lennox, decided a review should be conducted. The decision was also based on a review bylaw adopted by council when Givens was promoted from treasurer to CAO in September of 2013.
Consultant Nigel Bellchamber, who assisted with the CAO hiring, was part of the review committee along with Mayor Ray Tout and Lennox.
At the June 23 meeting, Lennox asked the vote on the resolution be recorded. Councillors Lennox, Dan Yake, Sherry Burke and Mark Goetz all voted in favour. Mayor Tout stated prior to the vote he would exercise his option to vote, but did not because the count was already 4-0 and the resolution passed when his turn came.
Tout told the Advertiser the resolution and recorded vote were done at Bellchamber’s recommendation.
Facade improvements
Wellington North council approved façade improvement grants totaling $6,000 to three local businesses at the June 23 meeting.
Wendt’s Jewellery and Foodland in Mount Forest ($2,500 each) and the Arthur Laundromat ($1,000) will all be getting facelifts with the assistance of the program.
A report from business and economic manager Dale Small notes that since the Community Improvement Program (CIP) was established in January of 2012, 13 applications for funding have been submitted and recommended for funding. The total value of the overall improvements is $110,000, with $24,000 provided in CIP grants, $5,000 advanced in interest free loans over five years and $81,000 provided by the applicants.
“These improvements have had a noticeable impact on both our downtowns and we look forward to continued success stories,” stated Small.
