Town hides purpose of legal fees in monthly reports

New Tecumseth Free Press February 11, 2013

In December 2012, Free Press Online reported that New Tecumseth spent over $5,000 to oppose a Freedom of Information request. Since then, the monthly summary report of expenditures, no longer references what the legal fees incurred were for.

The amounts paid to Town solicitor Jay Feehely’s firm are displayed, but the accompanying description of what he charged for, have been redacted. As have been the legal costs charged by outside law firms.

For example, last month we were able to report the Town had spent about $25,000 drafting the terms of the Gibson Cultural Centre’s failed buy-out. That detail is no longer provided.

For its part, the Town explains, “Any legal service explanations are redacted under Section 19 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act Ð solicitor-client privilege. If you wish to follow the FOI process the legislated fees will apply, for example any search time, redaction time, copies, etc. and any information subject to solicitor-client privilege will still be redacted accordingly.”