A new Council Code of Conduct bylaw is approaching final approval. According to a summary on the RMOW website, the bylaw received its first three readings on the May 28 RMOW council meeting. It was initially introduced in February and further discussed in April.
The Code of Conduct outlines ethical responsibilities for councillors and specifies the process for investigating, resolving, and publicizing code violations. Staff removed language related to harassment and bullying, which was initially included in the Code.
Council had previously determined that such matters were adequately covered under the Human Rights Code of B.C. Mayor Jack Crompton expressed his support for the bylaw in its current form but voiced concerns about elected officials managing conduct complaints against their peers. “Ideally, enforcement of local elected officials is managed by apolitical people like judges so that politics doesn’t drive decisions,” he said, reiterating his stance.
Both Coun. Jewett and Mayor Crompton backed a proposal to have staff draft a resolution for the Union of B.C. Municipalities. This resolution would request the Province to amend the Community Charter to include a mandatory municipal code of conduct and appoint a provincial municipal ethics commissioner with the authority to adjudicate and impose consequences, including removing council members for code violations.
The motion passed.
“Having watched some of the behaviour around the province, it doesn’t seem like it’s something municipalities are equipped to do,” said Coun. Jewett. “I feel very fortunate to be part of this group because I’ve been watching other (councils) that are very dysfunctional – they can’t move the business forward.”
The Council Code of Conduct Bylaw will be adopted at the regular council meeting on Tuesday, June 11.