By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Essex Council accepted the resignation of former Integrity Commissioner for the Town of Essex, Bruce Elman, effective November 30, and further appointed Suzanne Craig, operating as SC Consulting, to the position effective December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2027.
There will be two options to extend for an additional two-years each extension. That means if Council approves the extensions in the future, she could remain in this role for up to six-years.
Upon learning of Elman’s wish to resign for personal reasons, the Town issued an RFP for the position, Joe Malandruccolo, Director of Legal and Legislative Services, said. Only one proponent was received, who could not address all requirements.
The Town then issued an informal RFP meeting with three potential candidates. The candidate administration brought forward for Council consideration was Craig, who deals with her integrity commissioner services primarily on her own, Malandruccolo said.
“We thought it would be good for the town for this person to be the sole contact for the Town and to be able to address all of our issues as one individual person,” he said, adding Craig serves as an integrity commissioner for over 30 municipalities in Ontario, 15 of which are around the size of Essex. “She is very well-known in the industry.”
He added Craig expects to respond to questions or complaints within 48-hours to ensure to the issuer their correspondence has been received. Her formal response is usually issued within 15-days, but no longer than three-months. If the time will exceed that, she will notify why that would be.
The agreement can be terminated with 60-days notice, he added.
The Report to Council notes Council is required toappoint an Integrity Commissioner who is responsible for performing in an independent manner the functions assigned by the Municipal Act and the municipality. That is in respect to the application of the Code of Conduct for members of Council and of any procedures, rules, and policies of the municipality governing the ethical behavior of members of Council and local boards.
It adds that while it is difficult to anticipate the extent to which Integrity Commissioner Services may be required during 2026, it is believed the proposed budget amount of $37,000 will be sufficient.
Between 2019 and 2024, the Town averaged $13,597 per year on Integrity Commissioner services.
In answering Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley’s question on if there was any work uncompleted from the previous Integrity Commissioner, Malandruccolo believes as they work as independent bodies, everything is taken care of. If there are outstanding items, the new position holder will take over.
Councillor Katie McGire-Blais believes there are some things that have not been taken care of. She asked if residents who are waiting for responses need to resubmit their inquiry. Malandruccolo suggested that residents resubmit their complaints or concerns to the new Integrity Commissioner.
Mayor Sherry Bondy did have concerns about her workload, noting Craig was overseeing a lot of municipalities.