Almonte mayor, councillor sue critic in parkland spat

A bitter feud over a small plot of Almonte parkland could soon be making its way from council chambers to the courts.

Mississippi Mills Mayor Shaun McLaughlin and Coun. John Edwards have filed a lawsuit against Steve Maynard, alleging the man’s social media posts, which contain stinging criticisms of the mayor and councillor, amount to libel.

Maynard, who was born and raised in Almonte but does not currently reside there, called the lawsuit “laughable.”

“Nothing I’ve said is libelous,” he said. “Everything I’ve said is either truth or commentary from council meetings or minutes.

“Their supporting documents (contained within the statement of claim) prove I was telling the truth.”

The elected officials are seeking $250,000 in damages, including $50,000 for “aggravated damages” and $50,000 for punitive damages.

The suit, filed in Ontario Superior Court in Perth, seeks a permanent court injunction forcing “the immediate removal” of the offending posts, and preventing

Maynard from publishing “any further defamatory material.”

The allegations have not been tested in court, and no statement of defence has yet been filed.

The feud has its roots in a contentious plan to build housing units over a portion of parkland that was dedicated 14 years ago to Don Maynard — Steve Maynard’s father, a long-serving Almonte high school teacher. Former mayor Ron Pettem dedicated the park to the well-loved community builder in 2003, a ceremony Don Maynard attended in one of his final public appearances. He died in October 2004.

Mississippi Mills council first proposed selling off about 40 per cent of the green space a year ago, eventually settling on a plan to build five housing units facing Gale Street.

The rezoning was to raise $300,000 for upgrades to another larger park, Gemmill Park, on the other side of town.

An Aug. 9 council meeting generated considerable outcry, when hundreds of residents showed up to voice their opposition, presenting a 1,300-signature petition, urging council to reconsider.

Later in March, council invited residents to weigh in on different options for the redevelopment. Of the 180 residents who attended, 153 voted for a grassroots proposal that preserved the park and included no housing.

That idea was rejected by council because it did not include housing.

Then in May, another heated council session turned ugly when catcalls rained down upon the mayor and councillors during a series of presentations from public delegations — most in bitter opposition to the planned redevelopment.

Police were called before the meeting could resume, and as emotions boiled over, police took a 58-year-old man to the floor before escorting him away in handcuffs, citing, though not charging, him with trespassing. Mario Coculuzzi, a Gale Street resident opposed to the plan, had registered his delegation and was in the midst of his presentation when he began verbally sparring with the mayor and was arrested.

“I won’t deny I was angry,” he said at the time, calling the proposal “a sham … to collect more property taxes while lowering our property values.”

Mayor McLaughlin called the May incident “extremely unfortunate,” but said Coculuzzi violated council rules by using “abusive language” — though the mayor acknowledged he uttered no expletives — and violated OPP rules by resisting arrest.

The mayor, who was not available for comment Wednesday, earlier characterized opposition to the plan as a “self-serving” attempt to block the development led by “the five or six people who live (near) the park.”

Steve Maynard, who lives in neighbouring Carleton Place, published a series of critiques on his personal Facebook page now cited in the libel notice.

In one post from May, Maynard accused the mayor and his “lemming councillors” of discriminating against kids with disabilities, claiming the Gemmill Park project is not accessible.

In another, he accused the mayor of “law-breaking,” citing without evidence alleged violations of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, several municipal bylaws and the community’s official plan.

In another post from June, Maynard disputed Coun. Edwards by listing quotes from the councillor beside Maynard’s own commentary under the heading: “Who said it? Councillor or Clown?”

The posting depicts Edwards’ official portrait next to that of a clown.

Edwards did not return a call seeking comment, though lawyer Jonathan Collings, who represents both Edwards and Mayor McLaughlin on the matter through Ottawa-based firm Low Murchison Radnoff LLP, said the lawsuit “speaks for itself.”

“It’s the pattern and persistence of the posts and their character that pushed the envelope beyond fair comment and permissible opinion,” said Collings told the Citizen.

Collings said the mayor took particular exception to allegations he was a “law-breaking fraud,” and said Edwards was offended by allegations surrounding accessibility issues, which Collings said was an issue of “special concern” to the councillor.