Council here has appointed John Maddox of JGM Consulting as the Town of Minto’s closed meeting investigator for a second two-year term beginning on Jan. 1.
Since 2014 Maddox has been the closed meeting investigator for Minto, the County of Wellington, and all county municipalities with the exception of Guelph-Eramosa.
The Municipal Act allows any person to request an investigation of whether a municipality or a local board has complied with the closed meeting provisions of the act.
“In order to facilitate an investigation, a municipality must appoint an investigator,” states a staff report presented to Minto council on Dec. 20.
If a municipality does not appoint an investigator, the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario becomes the default investigator. The Ombudsman’s services are funded through the provincial tax base and municipalities are not charged for the service.
Under the agreement Maddox’ annual retainer of $1,000, together with each member municipality’s $300 retainer, is paid for by the county. In the event an investigation is required, Maddox’ hourly fee of $100 plus expenses and mileage is paid for by the municipality in which an investigation is being conducted.
A resolution to appoint the investigator was approved unopposed, without discussion.
