The Ombudsman found that the Township of Douro-Dummer provided sufficient notice to the public for council’s December 29, 2023 meeting, as council convened an emergency meeting to provide direction to staff on a time-sensitive contractual matter. The Ombudsman noted that an impending contractual deadline would not be considered an emergency in all cases, but was satisfied that the circumstances surrounding the impending deadline in this case required immediate action.
Township of Douro-Dummer - March 26, 2026
Read the ReportThe Ombudsman found that council for the Township of Douro-Dummer failed to state by resolution the general nature of the matters to be considered in camera at its meetings on December 29, 2023, January 16, 2024, June 4, 2024, and December 3, 2024. The Ombudsman noted that the general description must be stated by resolution, and that it should maximize the information made available to the public.
The Ombudsman found that a closed session discussion held by council for the Township of Douro-Dummer on March 18, 2025 about public conduct fit the open meeting exception for solicitor-client privilege. A solicitor was present during the closed session and provided confidential legal advice to council.
Following a review of five meetings held by council for the Township of Douro-Dummer spanning 2023 to 2025, the Ombudsman encouraged the Township of Douro-Dummer to keep comprehensive minutes of its closed meetings and consider making audio or video recordings of its closed meetings to provide the clearest and most accessible record of its closed session discussions.
Township of Douro-Dummer, May 10, 2023
Read the LetterCouncil for the Township of Douro-Dummer relied on the exception for personal matters to hold a closed session discussion about matters raised previously during a delegation by a resident. The Ombudsman found that the discussion included personal information about identifiable individuals and that the exception for personal matters applied to the closed session.
Council for the Township of Douro-Dummer relied on the exception for personal matters to hold a closed session discussion about matters raised previously during a delegation by a resident. The Township’s lawyer was present during the closed session and provided legal advice to council. The Ombudsman found that the discussion fit within the exception for solicitor-client privilege.
The Ombudsman found that council for the Township of Douro-Dummer did not include a general description of the matters to be discussed in closed session in its resolution to proceed in camera.