Following significant debate, Sarnia Council has passed recommended changes to the Code of Conduct in a 5-4 recorded vote.
Under the new amendment, members of council voicing their personal opinion on a matter, both within or outside council chambers “shall ensure their opinion relates to the matter at hand and not make any negative comments or insinuations about staff or other members of council.”
The amendment also says “press releases, interviews, social media and any other communications with the media and the public shall focus on policies and initiatives, not individuals. Members shall accurately communicate the ideas in reports as well as decisions of Council even if they disagree with the report or the decision.”
Councillors Mike Kelch, Dave Boushy, Andy Bruziewicz and Mayor Mike Bradley voted against the change.
Councillor Kelch supported the changes to protect staff, but felt the others "very dramatically restrict council's ability to have their opinion and to state it in a way that they're comfortable with."
"I don't want any of you, or myself, to feel like I have to consult a lawyer every time I have a comment," said Kelch. "My other fear is, who in the world will want to run for council if they believe that every word they say is going to be under intense scrutiny."
Councillor Cindy Scholten says there have been comments made about herself and fellow councillors that should not have been made, according to the code.
"When you say 'who would want to run for council?', I know there's a lot of people saying that they would never, ever, put up with the crap that I have been and the discrediting happening," said Scholten. "We need to hold each other accountable. That's why there is a code and apparently that's not even working as it is."
Scholten says there needs to be some sort of accountability moving forward.
"I hope that this addition will bring us together and start respecting each other, especially in the media, because when one person makes one discrediting comment about another councillor and that goes out to the entire community, then they're going to be mislead to believe that we don't have that unity or that focus together."
Before the question ultimately passed, Mayor Mike Bradley said, as the individual who brought forward the Code of Conduct to this council, he never dreamed it would be used by councillors against each other and members of the public against councillors.
"I view this as very restrictive," said Bradley. "It really is gagging what is the right of individuals who are elected."
Bradley said he has also noted staff making negative comments about councillors.
"I would hope if this passes, this would also apply in the new staff Code of Conduct to staff comments about elected people."
