A special meeting of Niagara Regional Council, prior to the regularly scheduled Council meeting is slated for tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.
The only item on the Special Council Agenda relates to recommendations from the Ontario Ombudsman.
Last week, the provincial ombudsman released a report entitled Press Pause stemming from the December 7, 2017 Council meeting in which a laptop and digital recorder were seized by Regional staff for allegedly recording a meeting closed to the public.
Ombudsman Paul Dube ruled the Region’s actions were unjust and illegal. In addition, he made fourteen recommendations, including that a full and frank public apology be delivered to the journalist and local blogger, who had their equipment seized.
The ombudsman’s report also noted that although Regional officials cooperated with the investigation, when a preliminary report was submitted, the Region’s external lawyer took an “adversarial approach”, and attempted to influence the investigation and dictate the content of the report.
A memorandum from external counsel, Jennifer Teskey, is listed on tomorrow’s agenda but as part of a closed meeting. Municipalities may go In Camera for solicitor-client advice.
Some Regional Councillors have questioned the hiring of external counsel and her actions.