A report from the Closed Meeting Investigator concluded that the Bruce County Executive Committee contravened the Municipal Act, the Procedure By-law, and the Closed Meeting Procedure with respect to the conduct of the meetings set out in the complaint.
Published highlights from council's meeting this month said the complaint alleged that the meetings were improperly closed and the Chair failed to report on the closed portions in open session, and that an improper vote may have occurred during one of the closed meetings. The report did rule out a complaint that the closed meeting minutes were improperly circulated.
The report was in response to a complaint filed with Bruce County’s Clerk on August 25, 2020, alleging that the Bruce County Executive Committee contravened the Municipal Act and Procedure By-law for closed meetings. The complaint specified meetings held on September 8, 2016, March 2, 2016, April 6, 2017, May 4, 2017, September 7, 2017, and November 2, 2017.
Bruce County took action and brought in Aird & Berlis LLP to independently investigate the matter, in accordance with the Municipal Act.
Bruce County has now asked staff to review and report on all closed meetings held over the past five years has made changes in its policies, practices, and procedures and has taken other steps to enhance accountability and transparency with respect to closed meetings in response to previous findings and recommendations
