A former Mayor of Hawkesbury recently requested that town council adopt a bylaw requiring training for new council members.
On Monday, May 11, René Berthiaume appeared before council on behalf of the Ligue du Réveil Civique de Hawkesbury (LLRC). The organization has formed in recent months and scrutinizes municipal government.
Berthiaume, who served as mayor from 2010 to 2014, said training requirements are necessary to ensure responsible government and ensure all councillors receive the same level of uniform training.
“This is to ensure that future councils and the administration of the corporation of Hawkesbury fully complies with the Municipal Act of 2001 in the Province of Ontario,” he said.
Berthiaume read the bylaw and while doing so, said the LLRC is speaking on behalf of the citizens. The LLRC wanted council to adopt the bylaw before the so-called “lame duck” period begins in August. That is the period before the municipal election when councils are limited to a largely caretaker role and are prevented from enacting significant bylaws and policies.
Berthiaume said provisions exist in the in the Municipal Act for councils to enact bylaws requiring councillor training.
Councillor Yves Paquette was critical of Berthiaume’s proposal and referred to past examples where council members in Hawkesbury did receive training.
Berthiaume said he was proposing mandatory training for the next council, not past examples.
Councillor Jeanne Charlebois said funds are already available for training and that newly elected councillors are properly instructed by administration about their roles and responsibilities under the law, and of changes to laws. She added that services are also provided for new councillors by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the Association française des municipalités de l’Ontario (AFMO). Charlebois continued by saying that councillors always receive the same amount of additional training information at the same time.
“What you are suggesting is already in place,” Charlebois remarked.
Councillor Julie Séguin also listed the numerous forms of training councillors receive.
“It’s to establish a synergy between the next council and the municipal administration,” Berthiaume said.
Mayor Robert Lefebvre said the town’s Procedural Bylaw does not permit the introduction and adoption of bylaws during the same meeting they are introduced.
Bylaws are generally tabled and then later adopted by council after three readings.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Sam Cardarelli said there has been discussion among other CAO’s in Prescott-Russell about training for councillors and preparations for the next term.
Both Seguin and Lefebvre noted the provincial Municipal Accountability Act places responsibilities for the development and administration of the council code of conduct at the municipal level, but there are variations among each municipality in how those responsibilities are addressed.
