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Guelph city councillors will soon have to watch what they say on social media

Guelph City Council's integrity commissioner delivers annual report
20170425 swayze ts
Guelph City Council integrity commissioner Robert Swayze. Tony Saxon/GuelphToday

Guelph City Councilors may have to watch their behaviour on social media in the future.

Integrity commissioner Robert Swayze made his annual report to council Monday night and said that there could be revisions coming to council's Code of Conduct that would cover the use of social media.

Coun. June Hofland brought up the relatively uncharted waters of how the Code of Conduct relates to social media on Monday, something that isn't clearly spelled out in the code.

"It's become very important," said Swayze, adding that he is working with City of Guelph clerk Stephen O'Brien to address the issue.

"It's certainly an item we will be considering," Swayze said.

Recommended changes to council's Code of Conduct will be coming later this year, his report said.

Guelph City Council has become notorious for butting heads on social media such as Twitter.

Overall, 2016 was a slow year for the integrity commissioner.

Swayze's annual report to council was a brief one.

Swayze said that he received six phone calls in the past year for advice and that there was only one complaint lodged.

"This council is doing something right," said Swayze, who serves as the integrity commissioner for several municipalities.

He said he has one client, a municipality of less than 20,000 residents, where he had 17 complaints last year.

The only complaint he dealt with in 2016 was regarding five councilors leaving a closed session of council. The complaint was eventually dismissed.

Swayze is paid a $5,000 annual retainer by the city to interpret and enforce Guelph City Council's Code of Conduct. He bills an hourly fee for work he does on behalf of the city. He has served in the position since 2011.

 


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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