Accountability, transparency and openness are standards of good governance that enhance public trust. These principles apply to the political process, decision making and to the administrative management of the municipality.
The Town of Hanover is committed to conducting business in an open, transparent and accountable manner and have developed polices and procedures which reflect this responsibility.
The Town of Hanover adopted the Accountability and Transparency Policy in December 2007 which outlines the municipality's duty to govern in an open and responsible manner. The policy references the various services and activities delivered by the municipality and the methods of ensuring transparency and accountability.
The council of the Town of Hanover adheres to a code of conduct which establishes a standard of behaviour expected of municipal elected officials. Council is expected to carry out their duties in a fair, impartial, transparent and professional manner. The Council Code of Conduct Policy complements existing legislation governing the conduct of members.
The Advisory Committee Code of Conduct offers guideance to members of advisory and ad hoc committees of council as well any task force or working groups, on expected standards of behaviour as a representative of the municipality.
The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act requires members of council and committees of council to declare any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in relation to a matter under consideration. A pecuniary interest in a matter is one where there is a reasonable likelihood or expectation of financial loss or gain of the member or related persons as per the Act. The responsiblity for declaring a pecuniary interest resides with the member. Members who declare a pecuniary interest must make a verbal declaration at the meeting if in attendance and also file a written statement which is to be submitted the municipal clerk for filing.
A declaration registry is maintained by the clerk and published on the Town of Hanover website after each council and committee meeting at which a declaration was made. The registry can also be viewed at the Town of Hanover municipal office during regular business hours.
An integrity commissioner is a municipal accountability officer who is responsible for applying the rules governing the ethical conduct of members of municipal councils and local boards, including codes of conduct, and for providing advice and education on those rules.
The Municipal Act, 2001, provides the framework within which municipal integrity commissioners are appointed and carry out their functions.
Responsibilities of the Integrity Commissioner include:
- Provide advice on the code of conduct to members of council, committees and local boards;
- Serve as an advisor to members of council. committees and boards in relation to the applicable Code of Conduct and any procedures, rules or policies of the municipality governing their ethical behaviour, including the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act;
- Provide educational information and training to council, committee members, local board members and the public on matters related to the Code of Conduct and issues of ethics and integrity and to the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act;
- Conduct inquiries and investigations into alleged contraventions of the code of conduct, conflict of interest and Town policies, procedures and rules related to the ethical conduct of members, present findings and make recommendations;
- Report annually to Council on the activities of the office.
Integrity Commissioner Contact Information
Principles Integrity
Jeffrey A. Abrams and Janice Atwood-Petkovski
30 Haddon Street
Toronto, ON M5m 3M9
E-mail: postoffice@principlesintegrity.org
Telephone: 647.259.8697
The Procedure By-law of the Town of Hanover governs the conduct of council and committee meetings and is a requirement of the Municipal Act. This by-law provides rules of order for meetings and defines public notice requirements for council and committee meetings.