IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR BROCK-SIMCOE ACCOUNTING (WALTER SCHUMMER, CPA, CMA)  External link opens in new tab or windowCLICK HERE


External link opens in new tab or windowLIVE STREAMING NOW AVAILABLE

LIVE STREAMING OF ALL COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF BROCK IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS IS AVAILABLE ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE.  ARCHIVED VIDEO IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE APPLICABLE AGENDA AND MINUTES PAGE OF THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE.


 


September 2020 Newsletter Now Available

click on Newsletter in menu bar

 

Thank you to the members of Council who supported my motion today to have staff follow directions previously provided whereas we agreed to give each community some ice time at their local arenas. Nobody is asking for seven days a week all day service but simply some time for local residents to use the ice for public skating and provide some recreation and diversion in these difficult times.
While the reasonings for closing Cannington varied I felt our residents need during COVID for some monitored time out of the house was more important. Staff confirmed today that there is no big incremental costs. Also, the reasoning about keeping everyone safe from COVID by limiting their use of facilities does not make sense either since Beaverton and Sunderland are not being closed due to COVID. Another reason provided was that staff would be used to do maintenance elsewhere in the township. Quite frankly I think we can get both done. Again, we're not asking for full time operations which still gives staff time to do other work but at the same time the Cannington arena I'm sure could use some regular maintenance during those few hours we'll open it up. As Councillor Doble said.... "why does it have to be all or nothing?" Simple answer.... it does not have to be.
Again, thanks for the support from Councillors Jubb, Doble, and Pettingill for their support in giving all residents in Brock a chance for some COVID relaxation. I'm looking forward to staff announcing the change in hours. Get out there and use that ice!

 

 

 

 


My Public Statement On The Integrity Commissioner's Report To Council



In 2019 Ward 5 Councillor Lynn Campbell filed an Integrity Commissioner complaint against me for a litany of issues she found offence to (many before the last election).  This past month the Integrity Commissioner submitted his report which found I have done nothing wrong.  The bill for this unnecessary investigation is close to $6,000 which is payable by the taxpayers of Brock Township.  The following is my public statement on the issue.  Full report from the Integrity Commissioner is on the township website.


I welcome receipt of The Township of Brock Integrity Commissioner’s report on the complaint filed by Ward 5 Councillor Lynn Campbell against me last year. The Integrity Commissioner conducted a fulsome review of all issues brought forward and found no wrong doing by myself.

In addition to the items identified in the report there are some other facts which I believe would be useful for members of Council and the public to know. Should anyone wish documented confirmation of any of these statements I would be happy to provide it.


1. On more than one occasion prior to this complaint being filed I reached out to Councillor Campbell proposing that we meet to discuss any differences and gain a better understanding of where each of us were coming from. These offers of reconciliation were either ignored or refused outright. That of course is Councillor Campbell’s right to do so. Unfortunately, the filing of this complaint will cost the taxpayers of Brock close to $6,000 in legal fees. Much has been said lately about why this had to reach the Integrity Commissioner. Rather than having a productive discussion she made my overtures of reconciliation part of her complaint. This is Councillor Campbell’s complaint and it is Councillor Campbell who refused my attempts to discuss and possibly reconcile any issues.


3. Some of her complaints were a result of her not carefully reading or understanding that The Township Social Media Policy does not apply to members of Council. It’s unfortunate that The Integrity Commissioner’s valuable time was wasted with a complaint about a policy that does not even apply.


4. Many of Councillor Campbells complaints did not even have to do with my time on Council and at times pre-dated this term of Council by many years which would be out of the realm of responsibility of the Integrity Commissioner. Many of the complaints were baseless and lacked any supporting evidence. In fact, for a complaint which included accusations of personal attacks by me Councillor Campbell made a number of statements in the complaint which could easily be considered personal attacks against myself including accusations of misogyny and chauvinism. Councillor Campbell also made the baseless accusation that I only attacked women through my social media posts. This very personal accusation of chauvinism against me is also unfounded and I gave numerous examples where I criticized male members of Councils… I do not discriminate.


5. Criticizing our politicians is an important part of our democracy. It is also important to note, as I indicated to The Integrity Commissioner, that I have not always criticized Councillor Campbell. In fact, I gave evidence of a half a dozen samples of social media posts where I either supported or commended actions and statements by Councillor Campbell. This is not the behavior of a so-called cyber-bully.


6. It is disappointing that it has taken the Integrity Commissioner and almost $6,000 in fees to make it clear that members of Council are NOT expected to follow herd mentality. The Integrity Commissioner has clarified something we all should know…. That we are individuals and we are free to express our dissatisfaction and opposition to policies set forth by The Municipal government we are a part of. The idea that we should all “tow the party line” is as absurd as the idea put forth by Councillor Campbell in her complaint that I, as a member of Council, should automatically agree with anything a Lions Club does simply because I am a member of a Lions Club. We do not abrogate our rights and freedoms simply because we have been elected.


7. I also must say that I am disappointed in the involvement of others in this complaint behind the scenes. During the investigation it became evident that private correspondence between myself, The Mayor, and the former interim CAO was provided to Councillor Campbell as she used this as evidence in her complaint.

8. There is one apology I would like to make at this time. I would like to apologize to the taxpayers of Brock Township for an almost $6,000 bill levied against them for an unnecessary process which I attempted to reconcile before the first hour was billed.


This process, again, could have been avoided if all parties involved (both those at the forefront of this issue and those behind the scenes) had agreed to sit down and discuss matters. As The Integrity Commissioner has said… The complaint process is to be the “last resort”. Running off to The Integrity Commissioner should not be the first move especially for a member of Council. It is sometimes the only option for a member of the public but there should be better resources at The Council Table to work through disagreements and problems. The recent trend of thinking The Integrity Commissioner is the way to solve all problems is troubling to say the least. This is now the second Integrity Commissioner complaint leveled against a member of Council by another member of Council in the last year and that is a troubling trend indeed.