An 18 page report by Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin has taken a number of South Bruce Peninsula councillors to task.
It follows his investigation into closed door sessions council held last year.
Marin says in the report, that on September 22nd, councillors clearly violated the Municipal Act when they voted to remove the mayor from the CAO negotiating team in a closed door meeting.
Mayor Gwen Gilbert was not at the session.
He also looked into a meeting June 23rd 2009, when councillors voted to hire a Manager of financial services.
Marin says council should have used greater caution in adding the item at the last minute to a closed door session.
South Bruce Peninsula councillor Dan Kerr accepts the report and says he will vote in favour of its’ recommendations.
Kerr is critical of the fact it took about a year to complete, but he also feels exonorated by the fact the Ombudsman found no fault in the informal get togethers of some councillors at a local Tim Hortons.
There had been speculation in the community that councillors were engaged in illegal closed meetings.
Andre Marins’ report has 7 recommendations for council, most concerning the proper proceedures to follow in closed door meetings.
Councillor Kerr says after reading the Ombudsmans’ report, he says the towns proceedural manual needs work.
Meanwhile, Dan Kerr tells Bayshore Broadcasting News he will not be running for election this fall, either on council or for mayor.
Mayor Gwen Gilbert has not announced if she will seek re-election.
