Mayor Cam Guthrie revealed Monday what it was that led to an investigation into a closed-door meeting of council last November.
A complaint was filed and an independent investigation conducted regarding an in-camera meeting held on Nov. 28.
That investigation, by London-based consulting firm Amberley Gavel, cleared Guelph City Council of any intentional wrongdoing, but said that one of the items discussed behind closed doors could and perhaps should have been held in the public session of council.
That item was discussion and a motion that directed city staff to proceed with a non-binding partnership for the creation of the proposed Brant Community Hub in the city’s north end.
At Monday’s meeting of Guelph City Council Guthrie, in the name of transparency, read aloud the motion that stemmed from that discussion. It read as follows:
1. “That staff be directed to draft a non-binding offer to lease and/or letter of intent between a suitable community partner and the City of Guelph for the use of the two acre lot at Brant Avenue for a Community Hub which would form the basis of a long-standing arrangement”; and
2. “That the previous direction to staff on October 26, 2015 be rescinded and the resolution removed from any outstanding Council motion lists.”
That proposed hub has had a lot of opposition in the Brant Avenue neighbourhood. Organizers of the project are currently awaiting word on provincial funding before moving forward with detailed design of the proposed hub before bringing it back before council.
