Town council approved a revised employee code of conduct and made several professional appointments during its regular meeting of January 9.
The Municipalities Act sets out a minimum content for an employee code of conduct and requires all municipalities to have one in place, says the statement in the code of conduct. “Local government is an open, accessible and accountable form of government. To enhance the relationship of public trust and mutual respect that has evolved between government and the public requires high standards of ethical conduct by municipal employees.”
The purpose of the code is to provide a universal understanding of the fundamental rights, privileges and obligations of municipal employees for their own protection; protect the public interest; promote high ethical standards among municipal employees; provide a means for municipal employees to obtain authorization for conduct in circumstances where they are uncertain as to the ethical appropriateness of that conduct, and set out the means of correcting unethical conduct, it says. Municipal employees must discharge their duties in a manner that recognizes a fundamental commitment ot the well being of the community, their fellow employees and regard for the integrity of the corporation.
This policy and procedures adopted by the Town of Kamsack will be subservient to those set forth in a collective agreement adopted by the Town of Kamsack or policies and procedures set forth in a statue of the provincial or federal governments, it says.
The code itemizes responsibilities of town council, the administrator, department heads and supervisors and employees and discusses integrity, impartiality, conflict of interest, gifts and benefits, use of municipal property, outside employment or activities, financial transactions, confidentiality and political activity.
For 2016, council appointed Collins Barrow as its auditor, Leland Campbell as its solicitor and Meridan Inspections of Warman as its building inspector.
It was decided to hire TaXervices for tax enforcement processing services with the threshold for sending files to that service set at $200 or more as of February 1.
Rather than appointing an engineering firm to represent the town, council agreed to reserve the right to hire appropriate firms as required for each initiative.
Council adopted a new schedule of rental rates for the OCC Hall that sets the daily rental with the kitchen up $50 from $250 to $300, and without the kitchen from $100 to $150. There are rates for optional set up and clean up days and a non-refundable booking deposit of $150. There were no changes in the fees for late deposit ($400) and for damage deposit ($250).
Approval was granted for a captain to accompany the fire chief or deputy fire chief to the annual Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs conference in Swift Current April 16 to 18.
A donation of $5,000 to the Duck Mountain Ski Hill was approved.
Council requested the Ministry of the Environment to renew the permits of Joe Kozakewich, Rick Aikman and Walter Lesiuk to allow them to shoot pests and predator animals within town limits.
Approval was granted for a pet walking trail through the sports ground.
The administrator was directed to begin exploratory discussions with representatives of the Kamsack Wildlife Federation for the use of the town’s old reservoir.
It was agreed to allow staff of Affinity Credit Union to park in the former A&L Plumbing lot which is now owned by the town.
Bylaws were introduced, given three readings and adopted to provide firefighting services to the RM of Cote, Village of Togo, Cote First Nation and the RM of Sliding Hills.
