Jocelyn, Township of

The Ombudsman found that council for the Township of Jocelyn contravened section 239(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 by failing to ensure that the doors to council chambers were unlocked for public access at the beginning of its October 10, 2023 meeting.

The Ombudsman’s investigation found that council for the Township of Jocelyn contravened section 239(7) of the Municipal Act, 2001 by failing to record closed meeting minutes for the in camera portion of its October 10, 2023 meeting.

The Ombudsman’s investigation found that council for the Township of Jocelyn did not vote on or pass a resolution in its open session to move in camera at its October 10, 2023 meeting, contrary to section 239(4)(a) of the Municipal Act, 2001.

The Ombudsman reviewed four closed meetings held by council for the Township of Jocelyn in 2023 and found that no illegal voting occurred, as council either did not conduct any voting in closed session, or was permitted to do so under the open meeting exception set out in section 239(6) of the Municipal Act, 2001. However, the Ombudsman recommended as a best practice that council should clearly identify any specific direction given, formally vote on it, and record that vote in its closed meeting minutes.

The Ombudsman investigated closed meetings held by council for the Township of Jocelyn on January 10 and 13, February 7, April 4, and October 10, 2023. The Ombudsman found that the closed meeting discussions on January 10 and 13, and April 4 did not fit within the open meeting exception for advice subject to solicitor-client privilege because no legal advice was received or discussed. However, those discussions fit within the exception for acquisition or disposition of land. The Ombudsman also found that council’s discussion on October 10 fit within the exception for advice subject to solicitor-client privilege, as council received legal advice on several issues from its solicitor at the meeting.

The Ombudsman investigated a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Jocelyn on April 4, 2023. Council relied on the exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual to discuss an expression of interest by a private landowner to dispose of land in an effort to assist the Township in resolving a property issue. The Ombudsman found that this discussion fit within the exception because the expression of interest constituted personal information in the circumstances.

The Ombudsman investigated closed meetings held by council for the Township of Jocelyn on January 10 and 13, February 7, April 4, and October 10, 2023. The Ombudsman found that council’s discussions on January 10 and 13, February 7, and April 4 to resolve property issues fit within the exception for acquisition or disposition of land because council had bargaining positions to protect in various potential land exchanges.