The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting of the Municipality of Markstay-Warren’s Committee of the Whole held on June 24, 2025 in which it discussed a noise by-law issue involving a resident. In the resolution to move into closed session, the Committee stated only the fact of moving into closed session and the time at which it was doing so. The Ombudsman found that the Committee contravened section 239(4)(a) of the Municipal Act, 2001 by failing to provide additional information about the general nature of the issue to be discussed.
Municipality of Markstay-Warren - June 24, 2026
Read the ReportThe Ombudsman reviewed a complaint that the Committee of the Whole of the Municipality of Markstay-Warren discussed and voted on making changes to the Municipality’s noise by-law during a closed meeting held on June 24, 2025, in contravention of the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman found that the closed meeting discussion was about a situation involving a resident, not about making changes to the noise by-law, and concluded there was no illegal vote during the closed session.
In reviewing a complaint about a meeting of the Committee of the Whole of the Municipality of Markstay-Warren held on June 24, 2025, the Ombudsman found that the minutes did not accurately reflect some of the proceedings – in particular, the resolution the Committee passed to move into closed session and the discussion it held in open session about the Municipality’s noise by-law. The Ombudsman made best practice suggestions for the Municipality to keep more detailed minutes.
Municipality of Markstay-Warren, December 10, 2024
Read the ReportThe Ombudsman investigated closed meetings held by council for the Municipality of Markstay-Warren on November 20 and December 11, 2023. At both meetings, council failed to state by resolution the general nature of the matters to be discussed, contrary to section 239(4)(a) of the Municipal Act, 2001.
The Ombudsman investigated closed meetings held by council for the Municipality of Markstay-Warren on November 20 and December 11, 2023. At its meeting on November 20, 2023, council discussed a recent banquet for volunteer firefighters. At its meeting on December 11, 2023, council discussed a proposal to sell two fire trucks, a proposal to consolidate the Municipality’s fire and public works departments, and a recently completed integrity commissioner report. The Ombudsman determined that the discussions fit within the exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual because each was anchored either by personal information or scrutiny of identifiable individuals.
The Ombudsman investigated a closed meeting held by council for the Municipality of Markstay-Warren on December 11, 2023. The Ombudsman determined it was unreasonable for council to parse its examination of a proposal to sell two fire trucks and a proposal to consolidate the Municipality’s fire and public works departments from the rest of the closed session discussion, which fit within the exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual.
The Ombudsman investigated a closed meeting held by council for the Municipality of Markstay-Warren on December 11, 2023. Council cited the exception for information belonging to the municipality to discuss a plan to consolidate the Municipality’s fire and public works departments. The Ombudsman determined that this discussion did not fit within the exception as the information discussed was already publicly available, and therefore did not have monetary or potential monetary value that needed to be protected.
The Ombudsman investigated a closed meeting held by council for the Municipality of Markstay-Warren on December 11, 2023. Council cited the exception for ongoing investigations by an ombudsman or appointed investigator to discuss a report by the Municipality’s integrity commissioner. The Ombudsman determined the discussion did not fit within this exception because this exception refers to investigations conducted by the Ontario Ombudsman, a municipal ombudsman, or an appointed closed meeting investigator, and because the exception applies to ongoing, rather than completed, investigations.
Municipality of Markstay-Warren, December 19, 2013
Read the LetterThe Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the Municipality of Markstay-Warren to discuss a proposed land acquisition for a new municipal garage. The meeting was closed using the acquisition or disposition of land exception. Council’s discussion focused on identifying an acceptable purchase price. The Ombudsman found that council’s discussion fit within the acquisition or disposition of land exception.