Clause 7 and the unwritten rule

Clause 7 of the Code 0f  Ethics   states the following:

Use of Town of Property

Members of Council will:

 *  only use town property ( including but not limitd to , real property,municipal vehicles, equipment,material supplies,intellectual prioperty and documents ) or services  of consequence,
for activities connected wuth the discharge of official duties or associated  community activities
having the sanction of  Council  or its committees.

This one is interesting.

The title  of Mayor is the property of the Town.

The person elected  to the office bears the title for four years. 


The title cannot be shed in a matter of town business.

It cannot be used  in a matter of private business.

The rule has always been  understood. Long before  there  ever was either a Code of Conduct or Ethics.

The key clause is "having the sanction of Council"

I had  to inform  the previous Mayor of the  restrictions on her use of the title  couple of times.

When the Mayor lent his name to the  list  of  names  used to influence  various organizations like the Rotary Club , the University  Women's Club  the Chamber of Commerce and whatever  other groups received a presentation from William Albino and Associates, the Mayor had no authority to do so.

No presentation had been made to Council. No support had been sanctioned by Council.

The Mayor's office was inappropriately used for the purpose of promoting a  private interest real estate deal.

It's not a Conflict of Interest, whatever  that's worth under current  legislation.

The Mayor does not stand to gain  financially from the scheme.

But it doesn't change anything.

The group went around making presentations to influence groups within the communiity claiming  to have  the Mayor's  support.

We don't know what else the groups were told . We were not there. . There is no record. They were not public meetings as we understand them.

Last week, in his comments in support  of the scheme, the Mayor said there were no secret meetings. Said it was inappropriate to suggest such a thing.

It was actually said by a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee where Mr. Albino apparently requested an in- camera meeting.

No such meetiing took place because advisory committees do not have the authority to hold in- camera meetings.

Nnevertheless last Tuesday Kathy Van Nostrand , speaking in Mr.Albinos place told Council hundreds  of residents have signed their names of the scheme.

They went about the town soliciting support from influential groups and collecting names and using the Mayor's title without the sanction of Council.

Well you know, according to the Code of Ethics and  the unwritten rule that preceded it, that is not precisely  Kosher.