The Ombudsman reviewed two closed meetings held by the OPP Contact Adhoc Committee for the City of Brockville with representatives from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to receive information about the OPP’s costing process to provide municipal policing services. The meeting was closed under the education or training exception. The information received by the committee was general in nature. The committee did not receive specific information about the OPP’s forthcoming costing proposal or discuss if the municipality should contract with the OPP for municipal policing services. The Ombudsman found that this portion of council’s discussion fit within the education or training exception. However, in addition to receiving general education during the closed session, the committee discussed engaging a local audit firm and directed staff to determine if the firm could assess the OPP costing proposal. The Ombudsman found that when a meeting is closed under the education or training exception, no votes can be taken that advance business or decision-making.
City of Brockville - July 19, 2016
City of Brockville - July 19, 2016
The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by the Ontario Provincial Police Contact Adhoc Committee for the City of Brockville. The Ombudsman found that the municipality had failed to amend its procedure by-law since 1994 and did not require notice for all of the municipality’s meetings. The Ombudsman recommended that the municipality engage in a comprehensive review of its procedure by-law and update it to reflect the current state of the Municipal Act, 2001.