SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE
September 5, 2012
Meeting No. 19
Finance & Administrative Issues Community Services Issues
Chair: Mayor
Frank Scarpitti Chair: Councillor Alex Chiu
Vice Chair: Councillor Carolina Moretti Vice
Chair: Councillor Howard Shore
Environment
& Sustainability Issues Building,
Parks, & Construction Issues
Chair: Councillor
Valerie Burke Chair: Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Vice Chair: Regional Councillor Joe Li Vice
Chair: Councillor Colin Campbell
Alternate formats are available
upon request.
Attendance
|
|
Andy
Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
Lisa
Riegel, Assistant City Solicitor
Trinela
Cane, Commissioner of Corporate Services
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Joel Lustig,
Treasurer
Stephen Huycke,
Acting Deputy Clerk
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
|
|
The Special General Committee meeting convened at the hour of 12:11 p.m.
with Mayor Frank Scarpitti in the Chair.
DISCLOSURE OF
INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER (9.0)
Presentation Communications
Martha Pettit, Acting City Clerk delivered a
PowerPoint presentation regarding an Integrity Commissioner position.
It was noted that the City of Markham also received
the Canadian Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting with respect to
preparing comprehensive annual financial reports that evidence the spirit of
transparency and full disclosure.
The Committee discussed the following relative to the
Integrity Commissioner (IC) Position:
·
How would the
interview committee work
·
Does the name of the
individual (whether Member of Council or member of the public) who launched an
inquiry with the IC ever become public information
·
If the complaint is
with respect to non-compliance with the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, does
the IC deal with it?
·
The importance of a
detailed complaint protocol
·
More information is
needed relative to the proposal to create a roster of ICs through the
Association of Municipalities of Ontario
·
Provide a chart format
in future presentation depicting complaints received
It was noted that the City of Markham does have a Roles
and Responsibility for Council and Senior Management
document.
Ms. Karen Rea, Markham resident addressed the
Committee regarding the potential to appoint an Integrity Commissioner and
spoke in support.
Ms. Donna Bush, Markham resident addressed the
Committee with respect to the potential to appoint an Integrity Commissioner
and spoke in support.
Mr. Stephen Kotyck, Markham resident addressed the
Committee regarding the potential to appoint an Integrity Commissioner and
spoke in support.
Ms. Joyce Ramer, Markham resident addressed the
Committee with respect to the potential to appoint an Integrity Commissioner
and spoke in support.
Ms. Alena Gotz, Aileen Willowbrook Ratepayer
Association addressed the Committee regarding the potential to appoint an
Integrity Commissioner and spoke in support.
Moved by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
Seconded by Councillor Howard Shore
1) That
the internal accountability and ethical standards and that the Accountability
and Transparency Policy be posted on
the City of Markham's Portal site as soon as possible; and,
2) That
staff be directed to report back on the appointment of an Integrity
Commissioner position on a retainer
basis including budget implications and a detailed mandate for the role of the Integrity Commissioner; and,
3) That
staff be directed to use the Roles and Responsibilities for Council and Senior Management document as a basis in
developing a draft Council Code of Conduct; and,
4) That
staff be directed to draft a "Complaint Protocol for Members of Council
and others Governed by the Code
of Conduct"; and,
5) That
the deputations regarding the presentation entitled "Integrity
Commissioner" from Karen Rea,
Donna Bush, Stephen Kotyck, Joyce Ramer, Alena Gotz, be received; and further,
6) That
the communications regarding the presentation entitled "Integrity
Commissioner" from Annette
Cacorovski, Peter K. MacLeod and Stephen Kotyck, be received.
CARRIED
2. LOBBYIST REGISTRAR & LOBBYIST REGISTRY (9.0)
Presentation
Stephen Huycke, Acting Deputy Clerk delivered a
PowerPoint presentation regarding Lobbyist Registrar & Lobbyist Registry.
The Committee discussed the following relative to
establishing a Lobbyist Registry and appointment of a Lobbyist Registrar:
·
The importance of a
detailed definition of what constitutes "lobbying"
·
At what point does the
information become public
·
What is the difference
in authority between a Lobbyist Registrar and an Integrity Commissioner
The Committee requested that staff include a copy of
the City of Ottawa's Lobbyist Registry in their next presentation.
Moved by Councillor Howard Shore
Seconded by Councillor Colin Campbell
1) That
staff be directed to report back in the Winter 2013 relative to proposed policy
improvements in areas of:
·
Lobbying of Markham's
Public Office Holders by potential vendors
·
Lobbying by former
Public Office Holders or current Markham Public Office Holders;
CARRIED
Ms. Alena Gotz, Aileen Willowbrook Ratepayer
Association addressed the Committee regarding Lobbyist Registrar & Lobbyist
Registry and spoke in support.
3. COUNCIL EXPENSES REPORTING (7.0)
Presentation
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Councillor Alan Ho
1) That
the annual expense report to Council as legislated by the Municipal Act recommendation: report will remain the
same; and,
2) That the
monthly expense reporting to Councillors recommendation: report will remain the same and e-mailed to Councillors for
review; and,
3) That
reporting on the Internet recommendations:
·
That a link to
existing annual Council expense reports be placed on the City of Markham portal
as soon as possible; and,
·
Post current monthly
council expense report; and further
4) That
the presentation regarding Council Expenses Report be deferred to a future
General Committee meeting.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The
Special General Committee meeting adjourned at 3:18 p.m.