WHEREAS Section 239(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, mandates that all Council and Committee meetings "shall be open to the public" unless there is an express exception as set out in the legislation;
WHEREAS Sections 239(2) and (3) of the Municipal Act, 2001, sets out eleven (11) discretionary reasons to move into closed session and two (2) mandatory reasons, none of which applies directly to the matters at today's Council meeting;
WHEREAS Section 239(3.1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, expressly provides that "a meeting of a council or local board or of a committee or either of them may be closed to the public if the following two conditions are both satisfied: 1. The meeting is held for the purpose of educating or training the members and 2. At the meeting, no member discusses or otherwise deals with any matter in a way that materially advances the business or decision-making of the council";
WHEREAS at its meeting on March 3, 2025, Council received and considered a Closed Meeting Investigation Report, dated February 26, 2025, from Mr. John Mascarin, the Municipality's Closed Meeting Investigator, who presented his findings and recommendations to Council;
WHEREAS in addressing the Closed Meeting Investigation Report, Council unanimously accepted the five recommendations described therein;
WHEREAS Recommendation No. 1 provided that, "Council and senior staff shall receive comprehensive training on the open meeting rule as set out in Section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001 from a qualified and experienced third party within sixty (60) days of the receipt of this Report";
WHEREAS the Acting Clerk/Deputy Clerk has retained the services of Mr. Rick O'Connor, CMO, LL.B. Certified Specialist (Municipal Law: Local Government) and President, MuniverseRO Consulting Inc., to provide that "comprehensive training";
AND WHEREAS Mr. O'Connor's career in the local public sector spanned 35 years, beginning at the Region of Ottawa-Carleton and then at the City of Ottawa, where he was the Deputy Clerk, then the City Solicitor, and finally, the first City Clerk and City Solicitor in Canada, due to his unique skill set that encompassed all manner of legal and procedural matters found in a municipal setting;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Municipality of North Grenville moves in closed session pursuant to Section 239(3.1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 and Section 4.12 of the Procedure By-law, being By-law No. 16-25, to receive its comprehensive training on the open meeting rule by Mr. O'Connor.