Merrickville mayor found to have breached code
The mayor of Merrickville-wolford breached the code of conduct last year after an “attempt to influence staff in the decision-making process,” a new report shows.
According to the report by integrity commissioner Tony Fleming, Mayor Michael Cameron breached the municipal code of conduct over an email he sent to township staff about a patio extension at the local Royal Canadian Legion.
Fleming started his investigation after receiving two complaints on May 28, 2023, one of which alleged Cameron sent an “email to staff requesting a response to a request for a patio extension for the Legion.”
Cameron allegedly had a conflict of interest in regards to the request — he was a member of the Legion at the time he sent the email.
“It is our finding that the email in question constituted a breach of the code of conduct,” Fleming's report said.
The section of the code of conduct that Cameron breached said it was “expected that members of council will discuss municipality business with staff and the CAO. These discussions, however, should never involve any comments or action that would in any way threaten or intimidate staff in the conduct of their duties.
“While the email in question did not expressly instruct staff to approve the patio extension, it is our view that the comment, `There is a lot of planning and fundraising going into this event by the Legion and it would be nice to have their patio extension considered ASAP,' made the member's position clear and constituted an attempt to influence staff in the decision-making process,” the report said.
Fleming said council members “must be mindful not to direct staff to such an extent that it is an attempt to influence or is threatening or intimidating.”
It was also alleged that at the July 1, 2023, meeting, Cameron “verbally added an item to the agenda requesting that a $600 surplus from Canada Day funds be donated to the Legion to go towards Veterans House Canada.” That complaint, however, was dismissed.
At an April 8 council meeting, during a discussion on the integrity commissioner's report, Cameron apologized for his actions.
“Upon review, I realized I overstepped my authority with regards to issues identified in the report, and going forward will adhere to the council code of conduct as it relates to harassment and influence on staff,” Cameron said.
“I sincerely apologize to those staff who felt they had been unduly exposed to harassment or influence by my request.”