A new policy is being created for the Town of Bancroft.
After a confidential H.R. complaint was filed against a member of council in January, the town’s legal counsel finished an investigation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The findings were presented to council and the complainant(s) in a closed council session in May 2018 through solicitor-client privilege.
In the statement, the town says that since the individual is no longer a part of council, the report can’t be released to them. The town says this is because of privacy concerns for current employees. They add in the statement that they are content to allow the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario determine if any third party can see the confidential information about a workplace investigation. They say protecting the privacy of town employees is council’s priority.
As a result, unionized staff, management and members of Council will develop a Council-Staff Relations Policy by March 2019.
The statement also adds more to the harassment allegations filed against former Councillor Bill Kilpatrick. In March, a complaint was filed against Kilpatrick under Bancroft’s Code of Conduct. An independent Integrity Commissioner was brought in on March 13th to complete a Code of Conduct investigation. Kilpatrick resigned on March 17th, but the Integrity Commissioner continued with the investigation without Kilpatrick’s full participation.
Nigel Bellchamber, the Integrity Commissioner, is an independent investigator. The town has not been involved in the investigation process beyond cooperating with information and interview requests, the statement reads. “While council is anxious for the matter to be resolved, they are respectful of those timelines and will receive the report when it is complete.”
The Integrity Commissioner’s report is expected to be done by September. It will be included in an open council agenda and given to the public at the same time it’s given to council and Municipal staff, the statement says.
