Woodstock Councillor and health board member, Sandra Talbot, said she is in isolation after travelling out of the country.
In a statement, released Friday, Talbot said, "I am a strong proponent of the safety rules and regulations that the Canadian and Ontario governments have put in place around public health. I always promote wearing a mask and taking all steps possible to stay safe, and I follow these rules at all times myself."
Coun. Talbot went on to say that travel is not banned in Canada, and that she is planning to self-isolate for 14 days in accordance with current restrictions.
She added that after she has completed her quarantine she will abide by the current provincial stay-at-home order.
Chair of the Southwestern Public Health Board, Larry Martin said the board is aware of the statement issued by Coun. Talbot.
"Oxford County has taken care to follow the direction of the Province and our public health leaders throughout the pandemic," he said in a statement. "We understand the Councillor is following public health guidelines and that she has issued a statement. The travel does not contravene any policies for County Council."
In a statement released Saturday afternoon, Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch said he could not "fathom" the reasoning behind Talbot's decision.
“Councillor Talbot may not have broken the letter of the law but she sure stomped on the spirit of it” Birtch said. “She sat in on meetings where the decision was made to advise people to avoid any unnecessary travel, but she decided the rules do not apply to her.”
According to Birtch, he will ask county council at its next meeting to review the councillor’s conduct and contemplate rescinding her appointment to the health board.
“She has lost all credibility and her continued presence on the Board will serve to undermine any further actions it may take," he said.
Under the Municipal Act, the actions of councillor Talbot are not in contravention of the legislation. According to Birtch, time off or vacations do not require the approval of council, the mayor, or city staff and reasons to remove a councillor from their position are "very limited."
“If anything, this lack of common sense and decency of the part of the councillor has united the rest of council even more and we will strive to serve the people of Woodstock to the best of our ability," he said.