.jpg;w=960)
MANITOUWADGE, Ont. – The Township of Manitouwadge is looking to discourage what it says can be false and frivolous integrity commissioner complaints with a hefty new fee.
Residents will be able to file one complaint per council term at no cost, but will now face a $100 fee for each additional complaint filed during the term.
The fee would be refunded if the complaint is found to be valid, and fees would be waived in cases involving allegations of harassment and for some other exceptions.
The Manitouwadge town council passed a resolution approving the fee at a meeting earlier this month.
Municipalities are required by legislation to have an integrity commissioner and adopt a code of conduct.
Manitouwadge has appointed the firm Expertise for Municipalities NonProfit Association (E4m) to provide integrity commissioner services.
The company is tasked with guiding the municipality’s ethical culture by responding to questions and complaints from the public and council, providing education and training, and conducting impartial inquiries in response to allegations that a member has not followed the code of conduct or Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
A report from the integrity commissioner presented at council’s Sept. 21 meeting showed in 2021, there were three code of conduct complaints and one MCIA complaint, with all matters being resolved or dismissed.
There were also 14 allegations made, but none were found to be in breach. The cost to the municipality from these complaints totalled just over $14,500
The report stated the vast majority of complaints filed with the commissioner are submitted by the same few individuals. Many of these complaints go straight to the commissioner, and the town council is not made aware of the claims.
After researching what other municipalities have done to try to mitigate the costs and to discourage frivolous or false complaints, council directed staff to include the new fee in the township’s 2023 services and charges bylaw.
The Integrity commissioner will receive, hold, and dispense the filing fee as determined for each complaint. The fee will be reimbursed if the complaint or conflict is upheld.
The township will waive fees for complaints related to alleged physical or sexual harassment, criminal behaviour, and those filed by a township staff person.
Council also authorized CAO Florence MacLean to waive the filing fee if deemed appropriate.
The town council meeting can be viewed online at the township’s YouTube channel (the discussion starts around 00:14:43).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mord3Q4NR0
Residents can also read administration’s report and recommendations at the township’s website, or by contacting clerk Joleen Keough at clerk@manitouwadge.ca or (807) 826-3227, extension 223.
