Puslinch will be joining others in Wellington County as it recently appointed John Maddox of JGM Consulting as its closed meeting investigator.
Council endorsed the recommendation before it on Dec. 17.
As such, council authorized retaining the services through an agreement entered into between JGM and the Corporation of the County of Wellington.
In 2007, Puslinch hired Norm Gamble as its closed meeting investigator; however, in September Gamble announced he would be retiring effective Dec. 31.
The Municipal Act provides that a municipality may appoint an investigator.
If no appointment is made by the municipality the provincial ombudsman will carry out an investigation upon receipt of a complaint.
In the past, Puslinch together with the County of Wellington, the Town of Minto and the Townships of Centre Wellington, Mapleton and Wellington North retained and appointed Norm Gamble as their closed meeting investigator.
More recently, the Wellington County Administration, Finance and Personnel Committee passed a recommendation to appoint John Maddox as its closed meeting investigator.
The following Wellington County member municipalities have either appointed or are in the process of appointing John Maddox as their closed meeting investigator: the Town of Erin, the Town of Minto, the Township of Centre Wellington, the Township of Mapleton, and the Township of Wellington North.
The appointment would be effective until 2017.
CAO Karen Landry noted the original report indicated the township would pay the $300 retainer fee, but in fact the county that will pay the fee. The township would still remain responsible for any costs of an investigation should they arise.
