Ethics policy approved by council

Times Reporter

 

The Mayor and Councillor code of ethics and conduct policy was brought forward to council for approval with a few amendments. 

The policy is to ensure that council and the Mayor avoid situations where public perception may be that they have used their position to gain a personal or pecuniary benefit. 

According to clause 2.9, Council and the Mayor are not to apply for employment within the town, or to seek a service to supply contract. 

In clause 3.3.7 it is written that it is the sole responsibility of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to hire, discipline, and terminate staff. The clause also states that no member of council, either as an individual or as a group, shall interfere with the CAO’s role by way of coercion, persuasion, or any form of influence. 

Councillor Earl Best was not in agreement with clause 2.9 and said even if a councillor were to apply for a job with the town, they would still be subject to the interviews and other criteria any other applicant would face. 

Best admits to having applied for a job with the town, and said though he did not get it he has no animosity towards administration. 

“When we came on to council there was nothing saying we could not apply for a job with the town, in that case I would like to see this particular part (2.9) of this pulled from here and maybe brought back the week before the next election,” said Best. 

“I don’t have any mistrust or misgivings about Councillor Best at all, but I’m wondering why we would want to grandfather it, or delay it, when the policy is actually morally right and the public is waiting for us to make a decision like this,” said Councillor Pat Fule. 

Fule said he has spoken to couple of councillors in Canmore who were surprised to hear that Strathmore did not have such a policy in place. 

Though Best agreed with the rest of council that a code of ethics and conducts policy is needed, he said clause 2.9 is an issue of contention with him, and therefore he would not vote in favour of it.  

Councillor Rocky Blokland said he agrees with Best on some of his comments, Blokland thinks clause 2.9 should be added. 

“We have elections every three years, you put your name in, you run for council as either a new councillor or one coming back from previous council. I think at that point in time you have to make a decision, if you’re going to be successful as a councillor that’s what you should be, without trying to apply for positions within the town of Strathmore. I just don’t think the two should be mixed up,” said Blokland. 

Council approved the policy, with amendments.