Good Governance Stratford

Good Governance Group [3G Stratford]
CHARTER, 16 June 2022

Background:

Why has a Good Governance Group emerged in Stratford?

We are a dedicated group of people who are very concerned about the way our local city government has operated: making important decisions behind closed doors; receiving the 2021 Code of Silence Award as the most secretive municipal government in Canada; limiting the participation of community residents and businesses in planning and decision-making.

What is Good Governance?

Good governance is the cornerstone of liberal democracy and it is everyone’s responsibility to promote it. It includes Government Responsibility [in particular, Efficiency; Effectiveness; Responsiveness] and Citizen and Community Engagement; both must be attentive to: Equity and Inclusiveness; Participation; Accountability; Transparency; and the Rule of Law. For detailed descriptions, see Mercy Corps: Good Governance Framework; and International Framework: Good Governance in the Public Sector [IFAC].

Our Vision:

A Stratford municipal government that is open, accountable, and fully engaged with its residents; a City Council and City Municipal Staff that invite and welcome the participation of the people of Stratford in their local government.

Our Mission/Purpose:

We are committed to a strong and vibrant Stratford community and to assuring good governance for that community, including: open, transparent and accountable municipal government [the “how” of governance]; facilitating public awareness of and input to all aspects of municipal governance; strong advocacy for and oversight of municipal governance processes.

Values and Principles:

INCLUSIVITY: diverse; non-partisan
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRUST: listening respectfully to community residents; advocating and working on behalf of all
TRANSPARENCY: open and inviting meetings of council and its committees
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: facilitating early public input on all significant issues to ensure well-informed decision-making
COURAGE: facing the issues and decisions that challenge our municipality

Goals, Objectives and Actions:

The 3G will be responsible for selecting potential Goals and Objectives to be implemented, including: the rationale for selecting a particular goal; how and when selected goals will be implemented; what outcomes are anticipated; how outcomes will be communicated; evaluation metrics; etc.

Develop public feedback opportunities and encourage more civic participation:

Public highlighting of significant issues under review and why they are important; encouraging and facilitating public input to those issues. The annual public Budget consultation and the current comprehensive review of the Official Plan are pertinent examples.

Facilitate the development and use of scientific surveys and polls on select local issues:

Ensure professional planning of such polls and surveys.

File an annual report on the city councillors and the mayor:

Include regular tracking and recording of the voting patterns of city council and its committees, agencies, boards and commissions.

Closely monitor municipal information releases, commissioned reports, etc. and ensure these are brought to the attention of local media and the public:

Look for evidence of efforts to obscure, or limit access to, important information.

Recognize, evaluate, value and highlight input from individual residents, community associations, advocacy groups, etc.:

Pay particular attention to information highlighting gaps or procedural shortcomings [including city staff] of which city councillors may be unaware.

Ensure linkages between municipal wards and elected councillors:

For example, councillors could be elected at large but then volunteer to represent wards, thereby linking them to local issues and giving ward residents someone to contact regarding municipal issues and problems.

Facilitate rapid responses to Freedom of Information requests:

Too many hazards and impediments shroud the release of sensitive information. Rarely is this justified except to protect council or the mayor or other parties. Public office holders always need to be publicly accountable for their actions and decisions.

Encourage Councillors to hold regular Town Hall Meetings:

A broad use of such meetings, on a regular basis and within each of the wards, would improve communications with the public and provide a forum in which questions asked have to be answered. The use of Zoom services, in addition to face-to-face meetings, would support more attendance. Provision should be made for additional meetings to address urgent ward-related issues.

Limit the use of non-disclosure agreements [NDAs]:

If an NDA is needed, it should only be utilized under extraordinary circumstances.

Limit the use of in-camera council meetings:

While necessary from time to time – e.g., legislative mandates; security or legal reasons – the rationale should be noted and recorded before going in-camera, and the resolution of the matter should be made as clear as possible.

Additional goals will be defined as needed.

Membership, Roles and Responsibilities:

3G Stratford will be a self-governing group to ensure standing. It will be responsible for determining its processes for membership, leadership, meetings, decision-making, fund raising, records maintenance, selection and implementation of goals, etc. Membership in 3G Stratford is open to any interested Stratford resident, on the following conditions:

      • Commitment to the principles of good governance, and to the Vision, Mission, Values/Principles and Goals of 3G Stratford;
      • Active participation in the establishment and implementation of those Goals.

Resources Needed:

Much of this will depend on the goals selected, making certain the right people are available to ensure their implementation. 3G Stratford will reach out to and utilize experts as needed. The Institute on Governance, located in Ottawa, ON, would be an excellent consultative resource.

Evaluation of Outcomes:

The credibility of 3G Stratford will depend to a considerable degree on a rigorous approach to the selection of goals and carefully-determined measurable outcomes. Expert advice on measurement and evaluation of outcomes will often be needed.

Duration:

3G Stratford will exist in perpetuity, or until such time as it is no longer needed.