At the February open meeting, council considered the Final Investigation Report of an external conduct reviewer in relation to two related Code of Conduct complaints against Cr Jones.

The first complaint was made from a fellow councillor in relation to a letter that was published in the Yass Tribune date June 2014 titled ‘Lost faith in Rowe’ written by Cr Jones.   

The letter was in relation to the handling of the Park and Ride funding pot that Cr Jones referred to as the 'final straw’.

The second complaint was from a member of the community and was later dismissed.

Despite this, Cr Jones said that she is determined to continue on as one of the strongest voices on council.

“I am more resolved than ever to speak out when I believe I should and I hope I have the honour of doing so to the good people of Yass Valley for some time to come,” Cr Jones said.

The Yass Valley Council employed an external conduct reviewer who determined that there had been a breach of the Code of Conduct by Cr Jones.

In tonight's council minutes the final investigation report states that council resolved to impose the recommended sanctions of the reviewer, but further resolved in a closed session that one of those sanctions remain confidential.

The Office of Local Government (OLG), which conducted the final report, advised that Council had acted contrary to the Local Government Regulation 2005 by keeping the censure private. 

Cr Jones sought a review of the matter through the OLG, however the only grounds on which to seek a review were limited to procedural matters. The OLG was satisfied that the proper procedural processes were followed and directed that the substantive issues be made public.

The governance implications stated in the report outlined that councillors and council staff play a vital role in serving local communities.

“To do this effectively, it is imperative that they uphold the highest standards of behaviour to ensure communities have trust and confidence in local government. Council’s Code of Conduct provides the framework for managing and enforcing these expected standards of behaviour,” the report stated.

The investigation resulted in unbudgeted expenditure of $6,864.55 for the Yass Valley Council in relation to the first complaint and the cost of the second complaint-which was later dismissed-remains unknown, according to Cr Jones.

“I felt really strongly about defending myself but ultimately it is for people to make up their own minds about what has gone on,” she told the Tribune.

Despite the investigation, she fully intends to run again as councillor in the next election.

“It has always been my intention to run again for council next year but this experience has fired me up and I am determined to do so even more,” she said.

“I want to help create a council which robustly tests and questions but can also encourage new ideas from staff and community, both of which have great depth of talent which should be drawn upon.”