Sarnia council considers a recommendation Monday to extend Robert Swayze's contract as integrity commissioner.
Swayze submitted the lowest of four bids, at $18,500 over four years.
The proposal is based on an estimate of 50 hours of service, annual retainer, an annual report, one meeting, one code of conduct review, and mileage.
Councillor Brian White said Swayze's bid is the most affordable.
"Mr. Swayze has come in at the most reasonable cost, which I think only benefits our community in the sense that we're going to have to incur an expense anyway," said White. "So, it makes the most sense, in my opinion, to find the most cost-effective option."
The integrity commissioner's primary role is to ensure council members follow the code of ethical conduct.
Swayze's services were used often during the past council term and he ruled twice that Mayor Mike Bradley had violated council's code, resulting in the mayor's pay being suspended.
He was paid $280-an-hour for services rendered, not including expenses.
"I think we need a fresh start," said Bradley. "We have a renewed mayor, a new council, I think we need a different integrity commissioner. You can't just go by the bottom line on this. You just can't. You have to look at the person's track record elsewhere, you have to look at their style, you have to look at their professionalism."
Bradley also wants council to review the code of conduct and rules of order.
"It suffocates free speech. It is a document that council can change. They have the right to decide what's in that code of conduct," he said. "When the rules of order were changed in the last council to give staff the right to deny people the right to speak to council, for example, I don't think that should be that way. Anyone should have the right to speak to council or appeal to council if they're denied."
Bradley is asking that a short term committee is formed, consisting of up to four council members, to review the documents and report back by the end of next month. He also wants the indemnification bylaw reviewed.
"It has not been changed since 1991," he said. "Which really leaves any individual councillor at the mercy of council if there's a legal action or administrative action against them, to not have proper representation."
Sarnia council will consider each matter during its regular meeting beginning at 4 p.m. Monday.
