Closed Meeting Investigator Services

The Vendor is required to provide for closed meeting investigator services.
- The Closed Meeting Investigator provides an independent and impartial review of such matters.
- Objectives:
• Promote transparency and accountability in upper-tier municipal governance;
• Ensure compliance with open-meeting requirements under the Municipal Act, 2001 as amended;
• Provide clear, well-reasoned, and defensible findings; and
• Support public confidence in county-level decision-making.
- Receive, acknowledge and review complaints submitted by members of the public, Council, or staff regarding closed meetings of County Council, its committees, and local boards, as defined in the Act.
- Determine jurisdiction and admissibility of the compliant, including whether the matter falls within the authority of the County as an upper-tier municipality.
- Evaluate complaints to determine their validity, including whether they are substantiated or appropriately classified as frivolous and/or vexatious in accordance with established criteria.
- Identify matters within and outside the applicable legislative framework.
- Decline or redirect complaints that fall outside the upper-tier municipality’s jurisdiction, providing written explanation.
- Communicate in writing with complainants regarding process, jurisdiction, timelines, and outcomes.
- Identify relevant witnesses and documents, including but not limited to:
• Agendas, minutes, reports and resolutions
• Emails, correspondence and internal communications
• Audio/video (if available)
• Procedural by-laws and policies.
- Establish investigation methodology, timelines and risk considerations.
- Review all relevant materials, including meeting agendas (open and closed session), supporting documents and governing policies.
- Conduct interviews with Council, committee or board members, staff, and other relevant parties, in an impartial, independent, and timely manner.