Konc contravened code of conduct: report
Issue will be before Wainfleet council Tuesday
An integrity commissioner has recommended Wainfleet council issue a reprimand to Ald. Betty Konc for contravening its code of conduct and that she issue a letter of apology to a township staff member.
Michael Maynard, a mediator, arbitrator and investigator at ADR Chambers, found Konc in contravention of two sections to the township’s code — sections 5 (a) and 12.
Maynard presented his findings of the complaint against the alderman — running for mayor of Port Colborne in the upcoming election — in a report that will be presented under correspondence Tuesday night.
The complaint against Konc came from township planner Sarah Ivins and revolves around an issue with the development of the former Lakewood Camp.
Ivins alleged that the alderman breached five sections of the code of conduct, and ADR, appointed as the integrity commissioner’s office for the township, began its investigation.
In his report, Maynard said the issue involving the pair was over work taking place at the proposed development at the former Easter Seals camp, which at the time was under appeal at the Ontario Municipal Board.
The work involved clearing of the property, which was permitted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
With residents concerned over the work, township staff looked into the issue and were given a copy of a permit by the developer.
The developer, according to Maynard’s report, said the permit was not to be shared publicly. That was also confirmed by the ministry, which said it was a legal document between the two parties.
Konc sent an email to Ivins, council and the CAO, requesting a copy of that permit. Ivins told her that it was only provided to township staff as a courtesy and she had no authority to distribute it.
From there, a number of emails went out from Konc over the permit, some to staff and council and others to the ministry.
In one email, she said her interpretation of an email from Ivins was that “she obfuscated the truth and made a deal with a developer which in turn put the credibility of the twsp at even more peril …”
According to Maynard’s report, that email made Ivins feel ill and professionally at risk. She also felt the emails made for a toxic work environment.
Maynard interviewed both Ivins and Konc during his investigation and Konc said she feels a personal connection to the issue and has become a conduit for concerned residents.
Konc said she did not intend “… to create the impression that (the complainant) would lose her job.” She also noted that she personally likes Ivins.
In the end, Maynard found the Konc only contravened only two sections of the code.