With the recent resignation of closed meeting investigator Norm Gamble, Erin, like other municipalities in Wellington County, is trying to come up with a solution.
On Nov. 25 councillor John Brennan asked if Wellington County had made any headway.
CAO Kathryn Ironmonger said she believed the county had a person under consideration, but needed to ratify some of the final issues.
Mayor Lou Maieron said each municipality is responsible for appointing an investigator. He noted Gamble was originally hired by the county and other municipalities. At the time, Erin was using a different service and the cost was greater, so Maieron recommended Gamble do the job.
Now, however, Maieron said it seems the Ontario Ombudsman’s office “would like to do the job for all of Ontario.”
Maieron stated, “If we don’t have a closed meeting investigator, the Ombudsman’s office becomes the defacto one and there is no cost the municipality.”
“You sure?” asked Brennan.
“Pretty sure,” Maieron responded.
Brennan said he believed there were costs involved. Councillor Barb Tocher suggested it would be something to look into.
Maieron said the meeting investigator has no clear rules on how to do the job.
