I.

CALL TO ORDER

1.

Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest

Recommendation:  That it BE NOTED that no pecuniary interests were disclosed.

II.

CONSENT ITEMS

III.

SCHEDULED ITEMS

IV.

ITEMS FOR DIRECTION

2.

A. Marin, Ombudsman of Ontario – Final Report – Investigation into Whether Members of Council for the City of London Held an Improper Closed Meeting on February 23, 2013.

Recommendation:  That the City Clerk and the City Solicitor BE DIRECTED to report back at a future meeting of the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee, in response to the report dated October 22, 2013, from A. Marin, Ontario Ombudsman, regarding an investigation into whether Members of Council for the City of London held an improper closed meeting on February 23, 2013, with respect to:

a)         the Ombudsman’s recommendation for the adoption of a written policy and/or written guidelines by City Council and steps to ensure that Council and Committee members are educated on the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001, with the inclusion of a definition of what constitutes a “meeting” that upholds the public’s right to observe municipal government in process, and an explanation of how it applies to informal discussions of Council and Committee business;

b)            the Ombudsman’s recommendation for all Members of Council for the City of London to refrain from using the pretext of social gatherings to conduct City business behind closed doors;

c)            the Ombudsman’s recommendation for all Members of Council for the City of London to be vigilant in adhering to their individual and collective obligation to ensure that Council complies with its statutory responsibilities under the Municipal Act, 2001, as well as its own procedures and by-laws.

d)            a possible fine or sanction to be linked to the Council Members’ Code of Conduct relative to infractions identified by the Ombudsman; and

e)            the disclosure of the full cost of outside legal counsel provided to Members of Council.

Motion Passed

YEAS: J.F. Fontana, J.B. Swan, N. Branscombe, D.G. Henderson, J.P. Bryant, B. Polhill, S. Orser, J.L. Baechler, M. Brown, P. Hubert, P. Van Meerbergen, H.L. Usher, B. Armstrong (13)

Motion to Approve part b).

Motion Passed

YEAS: J.F. Fontana, J.B. Swan, N. Branscombe, D.G. Henderson, J.P. Bryant, B. Polhill, S. Orser, J.L. Baechler, M. Brown, P. Hubert, P. Van Meerbergen, H.L. Usher, B. Armstrong (13)

Motion to Approve part c).

Motion Passed

YEAS: J.F. Fontana, J.B. Swan, N. Branscombe, D.G. Henderson, J.P. Bryant, B. Polhill, S. Orser, J.L. Baechler, M. Brown, P. Hubert, P. Van Meerbergen, H.L. Usher, B. Armstrong (13)

Motion to Approve part d).

Motion Passed

YEAS: J.F. Fontana, J.B. Swan, N. Branscombe, J.P. Bryant, J.L. Baechler, M. Brown, P. Hubert, B. Armstrong (8)

NAYS: D.G. Henderson, B. Polhill, S. Orser, P. Van Meerbergen, H.L. Usher (5)

Motion to Approve part e).

Motion Passed

YEAS: J.F. Fontana, J.B. Swan, N. Branscombe, D.G. Henderson, J.P. Bryant, B. Polhill, S. Orser, J.L. Baechler, M. Brown, P. Hubert, P. Van Meerbergen, H.L. Usher, B. Armstrong (13)

V.

DEFERRED MATTERS/ADDITIONAL BUSINESS

VI.

ADJOURNMENT