THIS WEEKS RANT

In Monday nights agenda package (which is somtimes on time for reading and sometimes not)was the Municipality of North Perth"s new Code of Conduct Policy. A very well put together document that would hold all employees,council members, Mayor, committee members etc to a very strict Code of Conduct.Something they should already be doing in my opinion. But when it came to a vote it was a tie 5-5. As stated by the Mayor in the Listowel Banner article by Andrew Smith "he has attended several sessions on codes of conduct, and found that most of the rules and regulations are already held within seperate legislations such as the Ontario Municipal Act, Municipal Election Act and the Conflict of Interest Act. In addition, members of council have already swore to uphold those rules."" Introducing a code of conduct is just tinkering with the laws that are already in place, so the need is not evident to me." The article stated that the deputy mayor is for it and as are some council members.
Having read the code of conduct I am not sure why the Mayor would not think it was not a good idea.It is a clear and concise document that can be enforced and hold the people wasting my tax dollars accountable. Does the Mayor have someting to hide or does he not think he could follow the code of conduct? Past performance shows he has not followed any code of conduct. There are minimal checks and balances to ensure that municpal government act in accordance with any of the laws. People have few resources in provincial government to turn to when issues arise and are left to there own devices. For many the cost is prohibitive facing an opponent with deep pockets and seemingly nothing to lose. We are left to defend ourselves against a corporate-orcracy whose management is accountable to no one. A Code of Conduct is long overdue in North Perth and hopefully when it comes back to council for a recorded vote that it be adopted and implemented.
Just my opinion........