The Town of Amherstburg is floating around the idea of creating a new position -- an integrity commissioner.
It's CAO John Miceli's idea that would see this position and its cost spread across surrounding municipalities in Essex County.
Amherstburg Mayor Aldo DiCarlo says this will add to the town's vision of greater transparency. "When it comes to what you would want from that office, it's not something you would need everyday," says DiCarlo. "It's strictly an investigation type of office. Unless you've got so many complaints that you would need that person on staff everyday, you just don't need them around."
DiCarlo says an integrity commissioner would be an alternative to Ontario's Ombudsman, but at a local level. "We think that would be more beneficial to the municipalities in Essex County because someone who is obviously familiar with our specific issues can approach our issues with a different perspective than let's say, legal council from Toronto," DiCarlo says.
The idea is being discussed among town CAOs before it moves any further. "It's really a no-brainer with our issues of transparency and accountability," he says. "The idea of sharing it with the county just makes it something affordable for everyone."