When council for Wollaston Township discussed in camera the job performance of an individual employee, it fit within the exception for personal matters, as well as the exception for labour relations or employee negotiations. The same was true of council’s discussion about the past job performance of a prospective consultant.
Township of Wollaston - May 24, 2019
City of London - February 17, 2017
The Ombudsman reviewed two closed meetings held by council for the City of London to discuss the appointment of an integrity commissioner. Council relied on the personal matters exception. During the discussion, council discussed the education, employment history and qualifications of a potential appointee for the integrity commissioner position. The Ombudsman found that the discussion fit within the personal matters exception.
Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands - September 8, 2016
The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands to discuss the assignment of the Chief Administrative Officer’s (CAO) duties. The meeting was closed under the personal matters exception. The discussion focused on the specific skills and work experience of identified employees who were being considered for the interim CAO role. There was a brief mention of the CAO hiring process which was incidental to the main discussion. The Ombudsman found that the meeting fit within the personal matters exception because council discussed the qualification of identifiable individuals. The Ombudsman found that general consideration of the CAO hiring process would not have fit within this exception, however any such discussions were brief and incidental to the main discussion.
Township of Russell - November 2, 2015
The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Russell to discuss a staff member who was a candidate for the position of deputy clerk. The meeting relied on the personal matters exception. When council resumed the open session, it appointed the individual to the position of deputy clerk. The Ombudsman found that the discussion fit within the personal matters exception since it identified the candidate by name and covered the individual’s employment history, job performance, and salary information.
Town of Amherstburg - April 13, 2015
The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the Town of Amherstburg that relied on the personal matters exception to discuss the appointment of an individual as treasurer. The discussion involved a review of a résumé, employment history, and qualifications of an identifiable individual who was a candidate for the position. Councillors also expressed opinions about the individual’s suitability for the position. The Ombudsman found that the discussions were personal in nature and fit within the personal matters exception.
Town of Bracebridge - March 18, 2015
The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by the General Committee for the Town of Bracebridge that relied on the personal matters exception to discuss committee appointments. The committee reviewed applications, including resumes, for the committee positions. While information about an individual in their professional capacity will usually not be considered personal information, the Ombudsman noted that in this case the applications included personal information, beyond just the candidate’s work history and education. The General Committee members also provided their opinions on each applicant’s suitability for the positions while in camera. Accordingly, the discussion fit within the personal matters exception.
Township of Baldwin - “Secret Ballot” - December 9, 2014
The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Baldwin to discuss candidates for the job of municipal works foreman. Council discussed the applications, résumés, work histories, and the possibility of extending an offer to one of the candidates. Individual councillors expressed opinions on which candidate would be best suited for the job and on the candidates’ qualifications. Although the municipality did not rely upon it, the Ombudsman found that council’s discussion fit within the personal matters exception.
Town of Hearst - December 18, 2012
The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the Town of Hearst. The meeting relied on the personal matters exception to discuss applications for a vacant council seat. The discussion involved reviewing multiple candidates’ résumés, and their work and education history. The Ombudsman found that an individual’s employment and educational history is considered personal information. Therefore, the discussion fit within the personal matters exception.