The Integrity Commissioners for McNab-Braeside, Tony Flemming and Lisa Sheldeman were present at the Township meeting of December 19th to deliver a 37 page report into the conduct of Mayor Mark MacKenzie, assessing a six week period from March 2nd to May 18th of this year, and make findings and a recommendation thereto, accordingly.
A sixty day loss of pay was recommended on the basis of what the Integrity Commissioners concluded were inappropriate and perhaps abusive behaviours toward municipal staff and peers on Council.
The ICs reviewed 25 alleged breaches and dismissed three of them.
MacKenzie absented himself from discussions during the report, and that portion of the meeting was chaired by Deputy Mayor Lori Hoddinott.
Councillors decided to accept the recommendation for the loss of pay- and, although the Integrity Commissioner was precluded by Township policy from recommending it, deemed it their prerogative to demand a written apology be posted on the municipal website.
Deputy Mayor Lori Hoddinott also handled agenda item 5.4.1, which was the Mayor’s written response, in which MacKenzie refuted the Integrity Commissioner’s report and announced his intention to appeal the matter (to the Ontario Ombudsman).
She was required to read the Mayor’s statement of refutation.
Elected representatives declined to accept MacKenzie’s statement as information, whereupon the Mayor resumed chairing the meeting.
By Rick Stow
