Civility In Council: New Municipal Code Of Conduct Legislation Pending

'Tis the season for new councils and new council members. In the past I have written articles and given presentations directed to explaining the basic legal duties and responsibilities of municipal councillors. In the broadest terms, they are:

• the duty to act in the best interest of the municipality as a whole (not necessarily that of specific constituents, nor that of the member's ward, and certainly not that of the council member);
• the duty to maintain strict confidentiality of matters discussed in a properly constituted in camera meeting of council;
• the duty to maintain the confidentiality of third party personal, business and other confidential information protected by The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and other privacy legislation;