Charges dropped against councillor

Assault charges against a Carleton Place councillor have been withdrawn after a judicial pre-trial in a Perth provincial court on Tuesday. The charges against Coun. Doug Black stemmed from a Feb. 2 incident between Black and Carleton Place Mayor Louis Antonakos. The physical altercation allegedly happened in the town hall’s foyer and followed a sharp, verbal argument between the two men. With the withdrawal of the charges, Black admits no guilt in the matter. However, he has issued a public apology and will now be required to enter into a diversion program, which is aimed at helping to remedy Black’s behaviour and reactions to stressful situations in a bid to prevent further incidents in the future. “I apologize and take full responsibility for my part in what transpired,” he said in a statement emailed to the Citizen. “I am relieved to put this unfortunate incident and unwanted publicity behind myself and our town. Going forward I will continue to work with council to serve and represent the residents of Carleton Place to the best of my ability.” Black is a longtime resident of Carleton Place, and has served on town council for more than 12 years. In the last municipal election, he received more votes than any other councillor. He has a documented history with Antonakos. In a January 2017 report, Ontario integrity commissioner Robert J. Swayze warned that the rift between Black and Antonakos was “clearly beyond constructive political rivalry and is damaging to the town.”