Minutes of Council Meetings

Special Meeting of Council
Via Videoconference
August 26, 2020

Minutes of the Special Meeting of Council of the Ontario College of Teachers held on August 26, 2020 Via Videoconference

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Call to Order/Welcome

2. Conflict of Interest

3. Minutes

3.1 Meeting, August 11, 2020

4. Business Arising

4.1 In Camera Session (Personnel Matters)

5. Adjournment

Minutes of the Special Meeting of Council of the Ontario College of Teachers held on August 26, 2020 Via Videoconference

Present: Charles Dimitry Abraham, OCT; Diane Ballantyne, OCT; Chantal Bélisle, OCT (Deputy Registrar); Paige Bennett, OCT; John Cammarata (from 8:45 p.m.); Bob Cooper, OCT; Chantal Côté, OCT; Irene Dembek, OCT; Elizabeth Edgar-Webkamigad, OCT; Richard Filion; Rebecca Forte, OCT; Melissa Gaffen, OCT; Tim Gernstein, OCT (Vice-Chair); Erin Glen, OCT; Mary Ellen Gucciardi, OCT (from 7:30 p.m.); John Hamilton, OCT; Jacqueline Karsemeyer, OCT; Timothy Kwiatkowski, OCT; Todd Lalonde; Colleen Landers; Élaine Legault; Marlène Marwah; Michelle Miner Seal; Mary-Anne Mouawad, OCT; Sara Nouini, OCT; Gerry O’Reilly, OCT; Bonnie Oakes Charron; Wanda Percival; Tom Potter; Nicola Powadiuk, OCT; Vincent Rinaldo, OCT; Jonathan Rose; Nancy Saunders, OCT; Stéphane Vallée, OCT; Nicole van Woudenberg, OCT (Chair); Stephen Zimmermann, OCT

Regrets: Jennifer Wyatt, OCT

Presiding Officer: Lori Lukinuk

Guest: Jennifer McAleer, Partner, Fasken Martineau; Michael Salvatori, OCT (Registrar on leave) (until 9:15 p.m.)

Staff: Kim Bauer (Recorder)

1. Call to Order/Welcome

The Chair of Council called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

It was noted that Tim Gernstein and Colleen Landers comprised the Steering Committee.

The Chair of Council opened the meeting by acknowledging that Council members were gathered from various lands that were the traditional territory of the Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Métis and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

The Chair welcomed all Council members, staff and Council’s guests, Jennifer McAleer and Michael Salvatori (Registrar on leave), to the meeting. She also provided a brief review of the preferred etiquette for conducting meetings effectively.

2. Conflict of Interest

No conflicts were declared.

3. Minutes

3.1 Meeting, August 11, 2020 (GC20200826-71)

It was moved by Steering, and by consensus

CARRIED,

That the Minutes of the August 11, 2020 Special Meeting of Council be approved.

eScribe vote:

For: Charles Dimitry Abraham, Diane Ballantyne, Paige Bennett, Bob Cooper, Chantal Côté, Irene Dembek, Elizabeth Edgar-Webkamigad, Rebecca Forte, Richard Filion, Rebecca Forte, Melissa Gaffen, Tim Gernstein, Erin Glen, John Hamilton, Jacqueline Karsemeyer, Timothy Kwiatkowski, Todd Lalonde, Colleen Landers, Élaine Legault, Marlène Marwah, Michelle Miner Seal, Mary-Ann Mouawad, Sara Nouini, Gerry O’Reilly, Bonnie Oakes Charron, Wanda Percival, Nicola Powadiuk, Jonathan Rose, Nancy Saunders, Stéphane Vallée, Nicole van Woudenberg, Stephen Zimmermann

It was moved by Steering, and without objection

CARRIED,

That Council suspend Standing Procedure Rule 2.11 In-Camera Session Section g, bullet 3 that states, "attendance at this subsequent in-camera session will be restricted to those who attended the previous in-camera session.”

4. Business Arising

4.1 In Camera Session (Personnel Matters)

It was moved by Steering, and

CARRIED,

That Council move in camera to discuss personnel matters, with only Council members, the Deputy Registrar, the Presiding Officer, Independent Legal Counsel, the Registrar (currently on self-funded leave of absence) and the Council and Committees Officer present.

eScribe vote:

For: Charles Dimitry Abraham, Diane Ballantyne, Paige Bennett, Bob Cooper, Chantal Côté, Irene Dembek, Elizabeth Edgar-Webkamigad, Rebecca Forte, Melissa Gaffen, Tim Gernstein, Erin Glen, John Hamilton, Jacqueline Karsemeyer, Todd Lalonde, Colleen Landers, Élaine Legault, Mary-Ann Mouawad, Gerry O’Reilly, Bonnie Oakes Charron, Wanda Percival, Nicola Powadiuk, Jonathan Rose, Nancy Saunders, Nicole van Woudenberg

Against: Richard Filion, Timothy Kwiatkowski, Michelle Miner Seal, Sara Nouini, Tom Potter, Vincent Rinaldo, Stéphane Vallée, Stephen Zimmermann

Prior to moving in camera, the Chair of Council confirmed that no preparation time was required for the meeting. She also confirmed that all members were eligible to claim a per diem of one half-day.

Council moved in camera at 6:45 p.m. and moved out of the in camera session at 9:25 p.m.

Council reported out on the in camera sessions of Council held on June 16 and 18, and August 7, 11 and 26, 2020, with the following:

Council received the Report of the Special Advisor to Council, dated May 20, 2020, and considered the following motions:

1. That recommendation #1 be committed to the Governance Committee for review and report with direction back to Council at the October Council Meeting.

[Recommendation #1: Immediately constitute a committee (or designate an existing committee) to compile all policies used by the organization regardless of whether they are Council or Administratively based. Once assembled, the policies should be organized in a manner that reflects Council’s Committee structure. Policies should be subject to a defined review schedule understanding that the time frame for review could be altered by legislative mandate or motion of Council.]

The motion was defeated. (Note: Council passed a motion for the Council Policy and Framework for Cyclical Policy Reviews in December 2019)

2. That recommendation #4 be committed to the Finance Committee for review and report with direction back to Council at the October Council Meeting.

[Recommendation #4: That Council immediately review the role of the Finance Committee with the expressed goal of enhancing oversight responsibility.]

The motion carried.

3. That Council engage in a comprehensive review of how the College engages with both its membership and the public at large.

An amendment to the motion was proposed: That the Chair of Council create an ad hoc committee to engage in a comprehensive review of how the College engages with both its membership and the public at large, and to report back to the October Council meeting.

The main motion as amended carried.

4. That Council instruct the Registrar to immediately develop a succession plan or framework.

An amendment to the motion was proposed: That Council instruct the Registrar to immediately develop a succession plan or framework for the Registrar and Deputy Registrar(s).

The main motion as amended carried.

The following motions were also passed during the in camera sessions:

5. That Council commence an external/internal hiring process to find a suitable candidate who could be offered a short-term appointment as Interim Deputy Registrar for the period August 26, 2020 to January 22, 2021.
6. That current Deputy Registrar Chantal Bélisle, OCT be appropriately compensated (acting pay) retroactive to the period of her appointment for the additional duties of being delegated the authority of the Registrar/CEO until the Registrar’s scheduled return on January 23, 2021.

5. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.