A series of new policies have been adopted at town hall that focus on ensuring appropriate behaviour from members of management staff and council.
The three documents – Code of Conduct for Elected Municipal Officials; Policy on Conflict Resolution Between Managerial Employees and the CAO; and the Six Steps of Conflict Resolution – were approved during council’s monthly meeting Aug. 9.
“It’s important to have these policies in place,” said Chief Administrative Officer Eric Mourant during council’s discussion meeting earlier this month.
The Code of Conduct for members of town council calls for the elected officials to adhere to the “highest standards of professional conduct.”
The policy aims to establish guidelines for the ethical and inter-personal conduct of members of council, ensuring they uphold the law; perform the functions of office with integrity, honesty, objectivity, accountability and leadership; have respect for the decision-making process; conduct themselves properly at meetings; don’t release confidential information; and more.
Any reported violation of the code is subject to investigation by the council, according to the document. And violation of the code may constitute a cause for corrective action, which may include a formal warning or reprimand.
The Policy on Conflict Resolution Between Managerial Employees and the CAO offers both parties a way to resolve a dispute or ongoing issue.
The policy recommends that if a managerial employee has an issue with the Chief Administrative Officer, then he/she needs to discuss the matter with the CAO within five working days from the time the incident occurred.
If the matter still can not be resolved, the employee may refer the matter in writing to the personnel committee. The CAO will then have the opportunity to respond in writing to the matters raised to the personnel committee.
In order to ensure impartiality, the personnel committee will use an outside independent and objective party agreed to by all parties to investigate the issue and bring observations, findings and recommendations to the personnel committee.
Under the Six Steps of Conflict Resolution, the parties involved in any conflict are asked to cool off, avoid attacking or blaming the other party, use reflective listening, take responsibility for their part in the conflict, brainstorm solutions, and forgive.
