Media Release: Township of Alnwick/Haldimand Clarifies Process and Addresses Concerns Regarding Closed Meeting Investigation Report Transparency
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grafton, ON – October 15, 2026 – The Township of Alnwick/Haldimand is issuing this statement to clarify the record and make all facts known regarding allegations made on social media questioning the Township’s transparency and openness in relation to a closed meeting investigation report regarding committee resignation letters.
The Township takes its obligations to transparency, accountability, and good governance seriously. In consultation with the current Integrity Commissioner/Closed Meeting Investigator, the public is entitled to an accurate understanding of the steps taken by the Township and the legislative processes that guide Council’s consideration of matters involving closed meetings.
Under the Municipal Act section 239, municipalities may close a meeting to the public if the subject matter being considered meets strict criteria. When making the decision to close a meeting to the public, staff consider these criteria as well as decisions and guidance documents from the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman and other pieces of legislation such as the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
To help residents better understand the process of a closed meeting investigation report, it is important to clarify the requirements established under section 239.2 of Ontario’s Municipal Act, 2001.
Under subsection 239.2(10), a closed meeting investigator examines whether a municipality has complied with the applicable closed meeting provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001 and its procedural by-law. Where the investigator believes a meeting may have been improperly closed, the investigator provides an opinion and reasons and may make recommendations.
The investigator’s report provides an independent assessment of the matter. Any recommendations included in the report are recommendations for consideration; they do not replace Council’s responsibility for municipal decision-making.
Subsection 239.2(12) requires Council to pass a resolution stating how it intends to address a report in which the investigator expresses the opinion, with reasons, that a meeting or part of a meeting appears to have been improperly closed to the public.
This provision establishes Council’s responsibility to consider the report and determine its response through the appropriate municipal decision-making process. The legislation requires Council to state how it intends to address the report; it does not automatically require Council to adopt every recommendation made by the investigator.
Council’s response must be considered in accordance with the legislation and the Township’s applicable policies, procedures, and other information available to it.
The Township recognizes that public confidence depends on clear communication, responsible decision-making, and access to accurate information. Clarifying the legislative process is an important part of ensuring residents understand the respective roles of an independent investigator and elected Council.
As part of its consideration of the former Integrity Commissioner/Closed Meeting Investigator’s report and commitment to due diligence, the Township sought independent legal advice to ensure the issue was appropriately reviewed and addressed. This advice was presented to Council in closed session as noted on the Open Session agenda for May 12, 2026.
Mayor Logel reported out of the closed session that:
“Council met in closed session to receive a legal opinion regarding the Closed Meeting Investigator's Closed Meeting Investigation Report of May 13, 2025, regarding committee resignation letters.
The opinion provided an assessment of the report's analysis, reasons, and conclusions. The opinion reviewed and considered four resignation letters of former Municipal Advisory Committee volunteers and found that the letters contained personal information.
The opinion concluded that the letters were properly considered in closed session by Council during its meeting on May 12, 2025, pursuant to the personal matters exemption, Section 239(2)(b) of the Municipal Act, 2001.
Recommendations for Council consideration on how to proceed with addressing the Closed Meeting Investigation Report include:
1. Receive the report for information and take no further action.
2. Receive the report but decline to adopt its recommendations.
3. Choose to implement the recommendations in whole or in part."
Mayor Logel’s report out of closed session on May 12, 2026 can be viewed on the Township’s YouTube Channel.
Following the closed session, Council debated the recommendations of the Closed Meeting Investigator’s Report as well as the legal opinion and recommendations in open session. As recorded in the May 12, 2026 Council Meeting Minutes available online, a motion to implement the report recommendations failed by a recorded vote of 2:3. A second motion was presented to receive the report for information and that no further action be taken. This motion was carried 3:2.
Under section 239 of the Municipal Act, the Township fulfilled its legislative requirements for handling Closed Meeting Investigation reports in an open, transparent, and accountable manner. The report is publicly available, the Township conducted due diligence with an independent legal opinion, the report was considered in open session, and a resolution stating how the Township intended to address the report was passed.
The Township encourages residents to consult official Council records, public reports, professional staff, and the applicable legislation when seeking information about this and other Township matters.
The Township of Alnwick/Haldimand remains committed to serving its residents with integrity, professionalism, and accountability, while respecting the legal requirements that govern municipal decision-making.
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For more information, please contact:
Dave Dawson, CAO/Fire Chief
The Corporation of the Township of Alnwick/Haldimand
PO Box 70, 10836 County Rd 2 Grafton, ON K0K K20
T: 905-349-2822 E: ddawson@ahtwp.ca