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Innisfil council drops $25 fee to file code of conduct complaint

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In Council Watch
Jun 18th, 2015
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Councillor Donna Orsatti -Innisfil Journal photo

By Rick Vanderlinde Innisfil Journal

Innisfil council has backed off its plan to charge residents a $25 fee to file a code of conduct complaint against any of the town’s municipal politicians.

Initiated by Coun. Donna Orsatti, residents will once again be able to complain to the town’s integrity commissioner for free.

“I’ve not received any complaints about the fee, but in my own conscience it didn’t feel right to charge residents,” she said. “It feels more like a gag. This is a right for our residents. It isn’t something you should have to buy.”

While Innisfil residents won’t have to pay the fee, non-residents will still have to fork over a $50 fee to file a code of conduct complaint against a council member.

Integrity commissioner John Mascarin has ruled on two complaints since the code was created two years ago. Both complaints came from non-residents. A complaint against former mayor Barb Baguley for using a town logo on election material was upheld. A second complaint against Deputy Mayor Lynn Dollin in March for allegedly using her influence against a private company in an email to the Association of Ontario Municipalities was dismissed.

Council voted in favour of the fees two weeks ago to discourage frivolous complaints that may lead to a costly investigation by the integrity commissioner.

While the resident fee was dropped, Coun. Doug Lougheed successfully added an amendment that could lead to the $25 fee being charged but possibly returned to the applicant if the integrity commissioner rules the complaint as legitimate.

However, Dollin said it could cost the town $75 in administration fees to return $25 to an applicant.

Town staff will investigate the logistics and cost of such a program and report back to council in November.

While Orsatti successfully overturned the resident fee, Lougheed and Coun. Bill Loughead maintained a fee would allow “second sober thought” from anyone filing a “frivolous or vexatious” complaint.

“It might be a good idea just to leave it. Then people are going to think twice about what they are filing a complaint about,” Loughead said.

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