Norfolk hires integrity commissioner

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Norfolk council members have hired someone to counsel them on questions and issues related to conflict-of-interest and council’s code of conduct.

Members of the public, council members and county staff also have someone to appeal to if they believe Norfolk’s elected officials have violated these rules.

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Last week, Norfolk council voted 5-4 to hire Toronto lawyer John Mascarin as Norfolk’s integrity commissioner.

Mascarin is with the Toronto law firm Aird and Berlis. He is regarded as an expert in the field of municipal conflict-of-interest and code-of-conduct issues. His contract with the county is for five years at an estimated cost of $155,000.

Under changes approved by the Wynne government, all municipalities in Ontario have till March 1 to appoint an integrity commissioner.

The vote at Norfolk council last week was close because not all agree that Mascarin is the most cost-effective approach.

In his report to council, clerk Andy Grozelle provides an estimated cost of $155,000 over five years. However, Grozelle also notes that “Costs are primarily determinate on the number of integrity commissioner investigations, which is unknown at this time.”

Mayor Kristal Chopp seized on this and pointed out that the cost of this service could rapidly escalate beyond the estimate.

“This is no knock on Mr. Mascarin’s ability,” Chopp said. “He’s certainly forefront in his field, that’s for sure. But we have a deep financial issue here in Norfolk and every dollar counts.”

Chopp’s preference is to separate the conflict-of-interest investigative role from complaints related to code-of-contact matters and seek legal advice on them on a needs basis. A majority of council disagreed.

“This has been a fair process,” Delhi Coun. Mike Columbus said. “As politicians, we need the protection of these professionals. I would say 158 municipalities can’t be wrong. They do hire lawyers to represent their councillors. You get what you pay for.”

Three vendors vied to supply commissioner services to Norfolk. Simcoe Coun. Ian Rabbitts said the process was “competitive and fair” and that council should proceed with staff’s recommendation.

Mascarin was called to the bar in 1989. He is an expert in municipal, planning and local government law and lectures on these subjects at Osgood Hall Law School in Toronto. Several other Ontario municipalities have taken Mascarin on as an integrity commissioner.

MSonnenberg@postmedia.com