A consultant’s report that recommended a number of changes for Victoria council, including establishing a code of conduct, has been handed off to the next council to consider.
Coun. Ben Isitt, who suggested the report be referred, given the municipal election is set for Oct. 15, said it just makes sense since only two members of the current council have a chance to be part of running the city for the next four years.
The 78-page report by accounting and business consultancy firm MNP, delivered to council this year, included 30 recommendations touching on everything from the role of the mayor and council to financial remuneration for elected officials, the proposed code of conduct and how committees function.
The report suggests a number of changes for the mayor and council, including creating a policy to guide council’s actions on matters beyond core municipal responsibilities and evaluating the purpose of council appointments to external boards and committees, given council’s existing role and workload.
The report also recommends consolidating administrative authority in the city manager, saying a lack of clarity in delegated authority has created problems for city staff when receiving direction from the mayor or other members of council. It also invites members of council to weigh in on administrative matters.
It has now been referred to a committee meeting to be held in early 2023.
The only other councillors seeking election this fall, mayoral candidates Coun. Marianne Alto and Coun. Stephen Andrew, supported referring the report to the next council.
“With so many of the council departing it just would not be productive,” said Andrew.
Alto said she would normally push for council to continue working until the end of its mandate, but as governance is largely internal rather than affecting the community at large, waiting until January is the right thing to do.
“In general, I think that the ability to provide the next council with an opportunity to set their own guidelines and determine how they feel that they can best work together in the interest of the community is a good one,” she said.
Coun. Jeremy Loveday, who proposed the governance review, said he was disappointed council did not have time to get into the meat of the recommendations, which address issues raised over the years.
Loveday said he’s concerned the new council won’t have the experience to make decisions on governance issues early in their mandate.
John Treleaven, chair of the Grumpy Taxpayers and a big fan of the consultant’s report, said the key is that the report not just sit on a shelf, but be put to use.
“Transition from one council to another always poses a challenge, particularly when there are really important issues hanging out there,” he said. “I think implementation of the MNP report is fundamental to the success of the next council.”
He said he hopes the next group around the council table will treat the report with the seriousness it deserves.
“I think it should be required reading for every elected official in the province,” he said.
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