It’s a familiar scenario this term of office at McNab-Braeside Township Council: the Mayor brings up his suspicions of municipal mis-spending, and someone takes offence.
A report is filed with the Township’s Integrity Commissioner, and a ruling is made against Mayor Mark MacKenzie’s actions- with a financial penalty imposed which the IC believes corresponds with the offence in question.
At the Township meeting November 5th, elected representatives received IC 3.0, and a further financial sanction against MacKenzie ensued.
At least one resident wants to know “who’s paying for this?”
Certain of Mike Groulx’s questions were answered Tuesday (November 19th), as Deputy Mayor Lori Hoddinott again chaired the session in the Mayor’s absence.
All three Integrity Commissioner Reports are now published on the McNab-Braeside website, and Mayor MacKenzie has been assessed financial penalties accordingly.
The salary savings incurred don’t come close to matching the Integrity Commissioner’s invoices for service rendered.
In the Mayor’s defence, MacKenzie believes what was ruled as an issue of harassment with the report released November 5th, should have more appropriately been an Occupational Health and Safety matter.
Left unanswered were Mike Groulx’s questions as to whether the Township is setting up a contingency fund against future IC involvement- and whether there’s a limit on the number of infractions that can occur.
By Rick Stow