Hamilton Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian says city council members should not be influencing Committee of Adjustment decisions.
In a memo written for public consumption, Boghosian writes, “As the COA is supposed to make decisions in a quasi-judicial fashion applying proper legal/planning principles, I do not regard it as appropriate for a Member to be attempting to influence the Committee’s judgment by writing letters of support in favour of constituents.”
“The COA is a quasi-judicial body which is required to apply legal and planning
principles to its decisions,” he continue. “Consideration of extraneous factors such as support of the application by a Member of Council or the sympathies of the particular application highlighted in the Member’s letter of support should not be part of its decision-making process and in fact could lead to its decision being invalidated by a higher tribunal or court on the basis that it took into account irrelevant considerations.”
Boghosian’s letter is part of the April 22, 2026, Council agenda.
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Published: April 18, 2026
Last updated: April 18, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
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