Committee discussion took place with respect to the following:
- Opportunity and implications, including costs and staff resources, of extending the hotline to the public
- Extension of the contract for an additional one-year term
- Impact of future considerations for an Auditor General model
- Consideration of Option 2 in Appendix 1 of the staff report
The following motion was introduced.
That Option 2 within the report be pursued, to extend the contract to include external sources of input, and for an additional one-year term.
Further Committee discussion included the following:
- Request for information on existing or potential whistle-blower policy and procedures to protect employees from reprisal for filing complaints
- Indication that a majority of complaints received from staff were related to human resources matters
- Indication that staff are reviewing the mechanisms and identifying gaps for employee complaints, including those against Members of Council
- Suggestion to incorporate a mechanism within the Council Code of Conduct
- Process and role of the Integrity Commissioner in reviewing complaints from staff against Members of Council
- Concern regarding potential delays in addressing staff complaints against Council Members and the need to establish an appropriate mechanism for such complaints
- Discretion of the Integrity Commissioner to investigate complaints
- Process for filing complaints with the Ombudsman
An amendment to the motion was introduced and accepted by the mover to read as follows:
That Option 1 described within the report be pursued, such that the contract be extended for an additional one-year term, while further research and costing be undertaken with respect to potential expansion of the hotline to the public; and
That staff be requested to research and report with an overview of existing or potential whistle-blower policy and procedures to the May 4, 2021 Audit Committee meeting.
Committee requested that further discussion on this matter be dealt with in Closed Session, as it relates to the security of the property of the municipality or local board.
Later in the meeting Committee considered this matter in Closed Session (Item 11.2). Following consideration of this matter in Closed Session, discussion took place with respect to the following:
- Request that staff research and report back on a policy to protect staff from reprisal for filing complaints
- Confirmation from staff that a report regarding the potential expansion of the hotline to the public will be provided at a later date to be determined
An amendment to the motion was introduced to add the following clause:
That staff be requested to research and report with an overview of existing or potential whistle-blower policy and procedures to the May 4, 2021 Audit Committee meeting.
The motion, as amended, was considered as follows.