Yellowknife city councillor proposes webpage dedicated to bylaw inquiry

Yellowknifers may get awebsiteto keep them informedon an inquiry into the city's municipal enforcement division.

The ideacomes in the wake of a secret meetinglast week to discuss aninquiry into allegations of misbehaviouragainst DougGillard, the city's bylawmanager, dating back to 2014.

Ina bid to increase the transparency of the inquiry, Coun. Adrian Bell proposed the idea at Monday'sMunicipal Services Committee meeting.Bell also suggested council could adopt special meetings to discuss the inquiry and that council could look at how other jurisdictions have approached similar issues.

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"My priority there is that we have notice of meetings," said Bell. "And that we stick to the agenda in those meetings."

Concerns about transparency were raisedafter the city's senior administrative officer, SheilaBassi-Kellett,confirmed toCBCthat acity lawyer had briefed some councillors on options for the scope and and process of the inquiry at a meeting onJan. 31.

No records of the meeting were kept and the public wasn't notified of itboth of which are required by the N.W.T. Cities, Towns and Villages Act for any meeting of council.

Council addresses proposal

Not everyone agreed a website was necessary.

"I certainly agree with Bell's sentiments in terms of public transparency," said Coun. Julian Morse.

"While I appreciate the intention of this proposal, I think we can achieve this within the structure that we've already got."

Coun. Niels Kongealso spoke out against extra meetings, unless they were to make the process more efficient.

"I don't think any of us want to drag this out because it's not comfortable for anybody," he said."It sells newspapers and gets people reading CBC, but that's not really our purpose."

Mayor Mark Heyck,Coun. Rebecca Alty andCoun. Steve Payne were not present for the discussion at Monday's committee meeting.

Bell said he would bring the website idea forward at the Feb. 12 council meeting.

Council considers security camera policy

A proposed policy on the useof city security cameras was also considered. Most of Yellowknife's public surveillancevideo cameraswere turned offJan.18 shortly after revelations ofGillard's alleged past misuse of thembecame public.

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The new policy would includean analysis of the need for each camera before they are turned back on, mandatory signage about placement, and rules that state footage be maintained by city staff and only shared with third parties in accordance to legislation.