> Grimsby gets added COVID vaccination dates April 15-16 /Pg 11 > Beamsville Lions host drive-thru Easter egg hunt Pg 9 > Meals on Wheels help rewarding Pg 10 > Grimsby burn permits available April 9 Pg 11 Thursday, April 1, 2021 Vol. 9 Issue 47
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Residents reject Main East condo Litany of reasons rolled out in two hour virtual meeting
Niagara Senior Golf Tour set
Bill Bodfield holds a notice posted at many Niagara golf courses notifying all of the inaugural seniors golf tour planned for the region. Along with Derek Divok, Bodfield and a group of volunteers have planned the five-stop tour with all proceeds going into the event’s prize table. For full details, please turn to Page 4. Williscraft - Photo
By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Glitches, sound issues and a full system reboot did not keep Grimsby residents from piling on their disapproval Monday night for the seven-storey Losani Homes condo proposed for Cole’s Florist’s current site. With speaker time shortened due to the volume of those seeking to address council as part of the public meeting regarding 141-149 Main St. East, the session went well over two hours The virtual meeting
was another example of the importance of faceto-face meetings for important public meetings. The digital session started with 40 on feed, built up to nearly 60, then after a shut down and full reboot was required after about 45 minutes of discussion only 40 came back. When several people who were listed to speak did not respond when called upon, Mayor Jeff Jordan noted, if they had any issues, they would get a chance to address the planned development.
See CONDO, Page 3
Grimsby whistleblower policy delayed for staff input By Mike Wiliscraft NewsNow After 13-plus months of waiting, Grimsby council was given two options on a whistleblower policy at its March 22 meeting. In a 5-4 vote, council approved an “internal” whistleblower policy - which will not allow staff to file complaints anonymously or to a third party - as its main motion. However, when council was informed staff had not been given an opportunity to provide any input on the new policy, a motion to defer was approved to allow time for full research and input to be conducted. In January 2020, council approved a new code of conduct which did not include a whistleblower policy.
It came directly to elected officials with no public input or prior vetting by them. At the Feb. 3, 2020 meeting of council, some members of council thought it key to include a thirdparty option. “Having a third party as being the focus of hearing any whistleblower complaints, concerns, issues...most industries outside of municipalities are doing that. The federal government is doing that. I think we should seriously consider that resolution,” said Coun. Reg Freake. “Pulling it out of the Code of Conduct policy gives it more credence.” By separating it, the intention was to have staff generate a report and return to council with a possible
resolution on the matter “to have some further conversation on it,” said Dorothy Bothwell at the time. After more than a year passing, council was given two options: OPTION 1 That as per Council resolution C-20-30 a standalone, employee based Whistleblower Policy with both an internal and third-party reporting mechanism and an anonymous reporting option, with associated service provider costs be approved; or OPTION 2 “That a stand alone, employee based Whistleblower Policy with an internal report mechanism be approved and recommended”
Dan Rummo, Grimsby’s interim human resources manager, told council last week an internal policy followed best practices. The report he filed with council stated, “Primary goal of confidential reporting, reprisal protection and an investigation, can be achieved without an anonymous option.” However, several members of council were not buying what Rummo was selling. “What if the problem was the CAO?” Coun. Lianne Vardy asked. “What happens when the problem, eventually, goes up to the CAO? There is no option that allows for a third party. That’s my major concern.” See CONDUCT, Page 2