Transparency and accountability get walloped by the Clerk's Office

background graphic redBy Pepper Parr

January 5th, 2021

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It will be a Receive and File report – no action will be taken unless there is a council member who asks for a change.

The purpose of the report in terms of the city’s current focus on its Vision is to:

• Building more citizen engagement, community health and culture
• Deliver customer centric services with a focus on efficiency and technology transformation

The report from the Clerk’s Office states that: “Accountability and transparency are key drivers in the Clerks Department. In working towards greater transparency there are small initiatives that have been completed during 2020 with respect to Council meetings.

“As these items touch upon how Council business is conducted, an information report has been provided to apprise Council and the public. The enhancements to accountability and transparency focus on the following areas:

Staff Directions – new public reporting process, with dates assigned to all deliverables.
• Declarations of Interest – creation of an online register.
• Increasing Clerks Department open data sets.

The Gazette will be doing an article on each of the three and will start with the approach the city is taking to the matter of declarations of pecuniary interests.

Galbraith slight smile

Councillor Galbraith is consistent in declaring his conflicts however we have not heard him say that he sent a notice to the Clerk.

The City is required by the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act to maintain a publicly available registry of all declarations of pecuniary interest made by members. The registry must include the original written declaration provided by the member of Council. At present, the City of Burlington maintains a register, however it is not posted publicly and is only available upon request.

That the city has basically hidden the public information on declarations of pecuniary interest and in the process appear to have defined their view of transparency and accountability.

The Council of 2010 and 2014 liked it that way, particularly the member for ward 4 at the time.

“The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, members of Council and local boards to declare any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in relation to a matter under consideration. A pecuniary interest relating to a matter is one where there is a reasonable likelihood or expectation of financial loss or gain by the member or related persons as defined in the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

“The onus to declare a pecuniary interest rests with the member, and there is time dedicated for these declarations on every meeting agenda. Members must complete a written statement of pecuniary interest and submit it to the Clerk. All declarations of pecuniary interest are recorded in the meeting minutes.

Enhancements Planned
“Staff have made enhancements to the declarations of pecuniary interest process to improve customer service, ensure greater accountability and transparency and comply with legislation.

“Currently the statement form is a word document that must be printed and completed or completed electronically and emailed to the Clerk. Moving forward the statement form will be automated and made available through the City’s website as an online form.

“Completed forms will be sent directly to the Clerk, reducing time delays and manual intervention. Conflicts will be filed in the City’s agenda management system and will be publicly available following each meeting in a conflicts registry, available to the public by way of the City’s website, will improve customer service and public access to the information.”

We all know how easy it is to find what you are looking for on the city’s web site.

“The new process is expected to be implemented in January. Further communication of the process will be provided to members of Council and local boards. Previous declarations made from the beginning of the term will be reflected in the registry.”

Will there be an announcement when the Registry is up and running? Don’t hold your breath waiting for that one.

Kevin Arjoon

Kevin Arjoon City Clerk

Kevin Arjoon, City Clerk said: “Accountability and transparency are key drivers in the Clerks Department. In working towards greater transparency some smaller initiatives were completed in 2020. As they are associated with Council and the meeting process, staff have provided a report to inform Council and the public of the program changes.”

What’s missing in the Clerk’s department is a passion for really serving the needs and interests of the public. Does the phrase: “How can I help you”, ever pass over their lips.?

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1 comment to Transparency and accountability get walloped by the Clerk’s Office

  • Penny Hersh

    Why does this seem to be deja vu? A lot of talk no action.

    ‘• Building more citizen engagement, community health and culture”. How about some updates on just what is happening in Burlington with regard to Covid 19?

    It would be nice to hear from our Council/City as to where positive covid cases are being reported. Which stores, or businesses and retirement homes and staff are being affected?

    Toronto has started informing the public which businesses etc. are dealing with Covid 19. Residents have the right to know, if for no other reason than to avoid those businesses until disinfection etc. has taken place.

    I don’t think this is too much to ask.