County council is considering ways to improve its transparency and accountability, including the hiring of an integrity commissioner or an auditor general.
Warden for the County of Essex Tom Bain says council needs to look at all options with the part of Ontario's accountability act that affects municipalities kicking in on January 1.
"To say the least it keeps us on our toes," says Bain. "We're going to have to be aware of items that we cover; make sure that we are transparent."
Bain isn't opposed to considering a joint city-county auditor general's office — a position city council rejected creating in-house on October 29.
"That's possible. Sure. Right now I think the doors are open. We're open to any option right now," says Bain.
Sharing expanded transparency and accountability measures with county municipalities or the city are options that will be looked at, according to Bain. Council also heard other potential considerations, including appointing a municipal ombudsman and consolidating the county's complaint system.
Administration will report back to council on the matter at a future meeting.
The county warden says more accountability and transparency is expected of politicians than ever before.
"We have to be much more careful in what we're doing and looking at these items. Having an integrity commissioner or an auditor general is only going to help us meet those needs," says Bain.
The Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act received Royal Assent last year, but is only set to give the provincial ombudsman new powers to investigate complaints of municipalities on January 1 — along with other amendments affecting municipalities.
