Integrity Commissioner and Closed Meeting Investigator

Closed Sessions

In some cases Thames Centre's Council, committees and boards will need to meet privately to deal with confidential matters. These closed meetings are not open to the public and are governed by the rules set out in section 239 of the Municipal Act.

Anyone who believes a meeting of Council was closed to the public and not in compliance with the Municipal Act, 2001 may submit a Closed Meeting Complaint to our Closed Meeting Investigator Aird & Berlis at 416.8654.7721 or email: jmascarin@airdberlis.com

Declaration of Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

A list of disclosure of pecuniary interest can be found on the Conflicts Registry as part of the Council Meeting Calendar

Helpful Links

Complaint Policy

Formal Complaint Form

Informal Complaint Procedure

Information Complaint Protocol

Integrity Commissioner

The Integrity Commissioner can investigate complaints related to the Code of Conduct and Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

Responsibilities of the Integrity Commissioner are:

Investigate complaints and alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct;
Investigation applications of alleged contraventions of sections 5. 5.1. and 5.2 of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act;
Review the Code of Conduct and Complaint Protocol and make recommendations;
Provide written advice to individual members of Council, Committees and Local Boards in relation to the Code of Conduct and any procedures, rules and policies of the municipality governing ethical behaviour as well as the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act;
Provide training and education services for Council, Committees, Local Boards, staff and the public;
Provide reports to Council, summarizing activities; and
Such other duties or functions as may be assigned by Council.

Code of Conduct Complaint Procedure

Any person who has reasonable grounds to believe that a member of Council, Committee or Local Board has breached the Code of Conduct may file a complaint or that a member of Council or a Local Board has contravened section 5, 5.1 or 5.2 of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act may file an application and request that the Integrity Commissioner conduct an investigation.

The Integrity Commissioner is Aird & Berlis LLP and can be contacted at:

John Mascarin

T. 416-865-7721

E. jmascarin@airdberlis.com

Administration Assistant: Katie MacDonald 416-865-7789 ext. 3169

Closed Meeting Investigator

Aird and Berlis, LLP also acts as the Closed Meeting Investigator. Anyone wishing to question the appropriateness of a meeting of Council or a committee that was closed to the public may submit a complaint to the Closed Meeting Investigator who will decide whether an investigation is warranted and if so, conduct an investigation and submit the finsing and recommendations to an open meeting of Council.

The Closed Meeting Investigator for the Municipality is Aird & Berlis LLP and can be contacted at:

John Mascarin

T. 416-865-7721

E. jmascarin@airdberlis.com

Administration Assistant: Katie MacDonald 416-865-7789 ext. 3169

Past Declarations of Pecuniary Interest

Below are past declarations of pecuniary interest made by members of Council.

2024

Date	Member	Agenda Item	Reason
January 29	Councillor Lockie	15 - Closed Session	Relations to applicant Mr. Lockie
February 26	Councillor Lockie	7.1 - Z34-23	Employed by neighbour
February 26	Councillor Heeman	7.2 - Z35-23	Employed The application is for a market garden zoning permission as I am primarily employed by a market garden strawberry farm in close proximity it would be a pecuniary conflict of interest to participate.
March 25	Councillor Crockett	8.1 - Minor Variance Application A2-24	Applicant and property owner of the address requesting the minor variance.
March 25	Councillor Heeman	11.3 - Municipal Approval for Licensed Retail Stores to Sell Beverage Alcohol Products on Specified Holidays	I am primarily employed by an Alcoholic Beverage producer

2023

Date	Member	Item	Nature
February 27	Councillor Crockett	6.2 - Z2-23	I reside within the notification boundaries of the re-zoning by-law amendment.
March 6	Councillor Crockett	11.2 - By-law 23-2023 - 3831 Elgin Road	I reside within the notification area of the rezoning amendment
June 26	Councillor Lockie	7.6 - Consent Applications B4-23 and B5-23	I am a Senior Director for Advanced Drainage Systems located on the neighbouring property
June 26	Councillor Heeman	7.2 & 14.4 - Z17-23 and By-law 70-2023	One of the applicants is a customer of my place or employment. Alcoholic Beverages

2022

Date	Member	Item	Nature
December 12	Mayor McMillan	13.3 - By-law 95-2022 - being a by-law to accept and assume ownership of works in Registered Plan 33M-712 - Byron Avenue Subdivision	Ownership in the corporation

Contact Us

Municipality of Thames Centre
4305 Hamilton Rd
Dorchester, ON, Canada, N0L 1G3

Ph (519)268-7334
Fax (519)268-3928

inquiries@thamescentre.on.ca

Aird & Berlis LLP is the Integrity Commissioner and Closed Meeting Investigator for the Municipality of Thames Centre.
Contact: John Mascarin
T: 416.865.7721
E: jmascarin@airdberlis.com
Administrative Assistant: Katie MacDonald - 416.865.7789, ext. 3169

For Code of Conduct complaints and Municipal Conflict of Interest Act Applications:
Aird & Berlis LLP
Contact: Meghan Cowan
T: 416.865.4722
E: mcowan@airdberlis.com
Administrative Assistant: Hilary Butten - 416.865.7789, ext. 5014

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