Having a fresh set of eyes look over Sarnia council's code of conduct cost taxpayers $17,000.
Committee-of-the-whole, which includes all members, was delivered the news by Sarnia Chief Administrative Officer Chris Carter on Monday.
"Did I hear you right," asked Councillor Margaret Bird, who appeared to be stunned by the answer.
Council asked that an external lawyer review the document in October to consider comments and nearly 30 amendments made by members of council and the integrity commissioner.
"This document is to be upheld by an integrity commissioner, not composed by that individual," said Bird. "Therefore, this matter should not have been sent to the Sarnia integrity commissioner or the current outside lawyer to comment upon."
Bird said the cost was unnecessary and accused the lawyer of rewriting the whole document instead of reviewing it.
Councillor Dave Boushy said with or without the document, they've been a good council.
"I want to approve it and never come back to that code of conduct again. I think we've had enough of it," said Boushy.
References to "his/her" and "he/she" have been revised to "their" in the new document and complaints must now be filed within 90 days.
Recommendations that complaints be filed with the city solicitor instead of the city clerk and that a fee of $50 be established to file a complaint were defeated.