Being protected by liability insurance shouldn’t mean that councillors are unaccountable for their actions, councillor Bill Beatty told town council at their meeting Monday night.

Beatty’s comments came during a discussion on a proposed bylaw that lays out how and when councillors and staff are protected by the municipality’s liability insurance policy.

Town CAO Kelly Pender told council that the bylaw is a standard one used by many municipalities, adding that the coverage has always been there, the new bylaw just dictates when it would be used.

According to the proposed bylaw, a council member or employee will be covered during any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding so long as “they acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the town, and, in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, they had reasonable grounds for believing that his or her conduct was lawful.”

“I guess it’s the terminology that gets me (where it says) ‘while acting on behalf of the town,’” said Beatty.

“Without referring to any specific incidents, I have a problem with, if we have not discussed something in this council, the full council, then I have a problem with anybody making comment to the newspaper or radio or whatever.”

Beatty said that he “can live” with the bylaw as it was presented, but implored councillors, saying, “Please don’t let it ruin the accountability for what you do and say.”

Councillor Fran Coleman said there are instances where the mayor, as head of council, will need to act on behalf of the municipality withoiut the “luxury of being able to consult” with all of council.

“I believe, as elected officials, we’re expected to make representation to the media. We’re all asked time to time,” added councillor Mary Jane Fletcher. “I hope that that doesn’t change. That’s part of our job.”

Councillor Mike Greaves said that while willful acts would not be covered by the municipal liability insurance, inadvertence should be.

“As a councillor you also need to be protected from your own stupidity,” he said. “I don’t think anybody here has put themselves around this table to lose their home and personal financial assets just because they want to do good for the town.”

Council passed the new bylaw.