Burlington council wants to make sure private discussions are appropriate
Published February 16, 2022 at 2:40 pm
Burlington council has decided to take a look at their policies and procedures around meetings that are closed to the public.
Usually referred to as in-camera sessions, private meetings allow councils to discuss sensitive or private matters such as personnel decisions or ongoing litigation.
Although there aren’t any specific concerns around how decisions are being made, council looks at this as being a proactive measure.
The review is being undertaken as part of the new contract that will be issued for the City’s Integrity Commissioner, whose current contract expires in July.
The original direction was to review it for the fall, but an amendment moved up the timeline so the work was finished during the council’s term, which ends later this year.
“Yesterday’s unanimous vote reinforces the commitment of every single member of this council to public transparency and accountability, while also respecting our obligation to hold some conversations in closed, confidential sessions to protect our community’s best interests,” said Mayor Marianne Meed Ward.
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“This commitment is shared by all city staff, who guide us on going into closed only when necessary, and sharing as much information as possible. I look forward to the review of our practices from our Closed Meeting Investigator, and any additional suggestions they might have for how we can continue our commitment to public engagement while adhering to our obligations to maintain confidentiality over items discussed in closed session.”
For more on the issue, visit Meed Ward’s website.
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