A Meeting Not Attended.

I missed Tuesday's Council meeting.The agenda was sparse. There was an in- camera item I did not intend to participate and another on the public agenda, I did not intend to vote. Rules require all members to vote on all questions. Ethics mitigate against making a public issue of certain matters.

There is a way of avoiding the conflict. It was not taken.

Eat Smart Awards were being presented by the Mayor and a delegation of three, representing fourteen churches were seeking endorsement for Mayor's Prayer Breakfast event.

My feelings about the efficacy of group prayer are personal and will not be shared. The risk of being a captive audience to a politician fulminating on the issue is more than likely to provoke an inappropriate and irreverent response, the degree being entirely dependent on time consumed. .

I needed to steer clear.

York Region Transit Spring News Letter informing of changes in service was an item on the agenda.

Councillor MacEachern submitted the Arboretum News Letter as a memorandum. The document had already been distributed in our mail boxes. Why it was on the agenda was not immediately obvious.

A vexatious item was the recommendation from the workshop on April 21st with Mr. David Nitkin, the town's Integrity Commissioner.

During the course of the meeting, Mr. Nitkin explained his role would be educational. He recommended he would not review actions of members of advisory committees. He would recommend, as well as impose sanctions on councillors. He stressed the likelihood would be extremely rare. He would not be a policeman.

His comment prompted a reaction from the Mayor. A litany of complaints councillors had had to endure throughout the term was recited. Professional reputations had been sullied . Information had been leaked from closed meetings. Councillors had been accused of Breach of Trust. Legal advice had to be sought at taxpayer's expense ($16,200). Establishment of a Code of Ethics and appointment of Integrity Commissioner was the advice received. (Though no culprit was ever named)

Mr. Nitkin's advised his role would be that of an educator, not a policeman, and he would not deal with past complaints. It did not sit well.

The Commissioner was retained prior to the retirement of Corporate Services Director Bob Panizza in November 2008....six months ago.

One educational workshop has been held. The principle of ethics was examined. Never having had the advantage of such a forum before, I found it extremely valuable. But three members of council were missing.

The opportunity to learn was not shared .The value of the workshop was reduced accordingly. Though the cost was not.

The Commissioner had recommended private workshops. He felt participants would be more relaxed, find it easier to ask questions and engage.

But the second session was public. Council was not consulted. It went twenty-minutes beyond schedule. Nothing new was learned . People clearly have a different concept of ethics.

Thus far, the exercise has been like trying to take a bite from an apple hanging from the ceiling on a string.

The longer the string, the wider the swing.

The coherence of the Town's Code of Ethics does not improve with time and exposure to reality either.