One of the two men who filed a complaint against suspended Stirling Rawdon Police Board chair, Greg Oliver, has appeared before the Ontario Civilian Police Commission hearing.

Former Police Board chair, Shawn LaPalm, had concerns with at least three members of a new Police Board.

Like Stirling Rawdon Police Chief Brian Foley before him, former Police Board chair Shawn Lapalm said he believed new board members Greg Oliver, Mayor Rodney Cooney, and Deputy Mayor Wilfred Shier, were out to fire the chief.

LaPalm told Oliver’s lawyer that he had serious problems with how that group handled issues like the Chief’s new extended contract, the Chief’s “use of force” qualifications, and their treatment of then board secretary Linda Philp.

He did say that most of his concerns were caused by Mayor Cooney and Deputy Mayor Wilfred Shier.

The Commission hearing is looking into the conduct of Greg Oliver only.

Meanwhile, there was talk about an accident former board chair Shawn LaPalm’s step-son had. The young man had rear-ended a Belleville Police cruiser, injuring an officer, in May of 2011.

LaPalm’s step-son was charged with careless driving but later that charge was dropped, and he pleaded guilty to following too closely, and received a small fine.

LaPalm said he followed Chief Foley’s advice and called an inspector at Belleville Police for some information on the accident.

He left a message and somehow ended up talking to Chief Cory McMullan.

McMullan testified that she knew him as a Stirling Police Board member but that at no time did he ask to have the charge dropped or altered. She said she would never involve herself in an investigation as that was not her role.

The Commission heard that at no time did Chief Foley ask anyone to interfere in the accident investigation, despite rumours to the contrary.

The hearing was called after complaints about the conduct of suspended board chair Greg Oliver.

Testimony has indicated Oliver criticized and spoke out against  Police Chief Brian Foley’s contract which had been extended just prior to a new board taking over.

Commission lawyer Brian Whithead has wrapped up his witnesses and Oliver’s lawyer Patrick Hurley says he will call six witnesses.

He listed Bob Anderson, Ken Leavens, Ron Denyes, Rick Wright, Wayne Martin and Mayor Rodney Cooney.  Oliver himself was not named.

When questioned about his upcoming closing arguments, Hurley said he would be arguing for his client’s “Freedom of Expression.”

Whithead told the hearing panel this should involve case law, and he wants a written submission.

He said it’s crucial in this case to know “what hat Oliver was wearing” when he made various statements.

Commission member Noelle Caloren indicated the issue of a written submission would be decided once all the evidence is in.

Authorities laid the charges against a Colborne-area photographer after alleged incidents that happened sometime between 2010 and May of this year.

Seventy year-old John Brunke  is facing charges.

Police say he’s known to take photos of local sports games and events as well as have individual photo sessions.

Anyone who may have any other information can call Northumberland OPP or Crimestoppers.

Conservative Daryl Kramp has been named the President of the Canadian chapter of GOPAC, the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption.

The agency is in 57 countries and Kramp says it’s something he holds close to his heart.

Kramp says poverty and corruption go hand and hand in many third world countries and Canada can help to be a real leader in this area.

The city is hosting a series of public information sessions to get residents ready to expand it’s 2011 pilot program into 14,000 homes city-wide.

Each home will receive a small kitchen catcher for under the sink, as well as a larger green bin for curb side pick up.

Public info sessions will be held June 25th at Foxboro Public School, June 26th at Moira Secondary School and June 27th at City Hall.

Info sessions are also scheduled for July 9th at the Gerry Masterson Community Centre in Thurlow and July 16th at the Parkdale Community Centre.

Click here for more details.

A crew of 14 Napanee firefighters responded to 244 Thomas Street around 7:00 p.m., where a fire had started in the upper bathroom of a home.

The homeowner was outside at the time, and heard the smoke detector going off, so he called 911.

Damage was contained to the bathroom and is estimated at $10,000.

There’s been no word yet on a cause.

Soon, Paul Kyte will make a motion to support a continued effort to not allow large wind power developments because of their possible effects on human health.

Recently, the local Health Units Medical Officer, Doctor Richard Schabas, told the board that there wasn’t conclusive evidence that wind turbines caused sickness and he couldn’t support a moratorium on wind farms.

We’re talking about Prince Edward Memorial Hospital de-amalgamating from the Quinte Healthcare Corporation.

A story in the Intelligencer says that recently the Patriots of our County Hospital, or POOCH, received a letter from the Minister of Health, Deb Matthews.

In that letter, the Minister said that breaking up the Quinte Healthcare Corporation in any way is not under consideration by the government.

Like residents in Quinte West, County residents have been lobbying to operate separately from QHC because of continuing cutbacks at the hospitals in Trenton and Picton.

Meanwhile, QHC President Mary Clare Egberts continues to say that there’ll always be a hospital in the County, and that the hospital will be redeveloped.

The installation of eight regular-sized doors is aimed at showing how affordable housing provides benefits to the community.

Executive director of the Community Development Council of Quinte, Ruth Ingersoll.

In Hastings-Quinte there are 1,310 households waiting for geared-to-income housing.

Former chair Shawn LaPalm testified that when newly-elected Mayor Rodney Cooney attended board meetings he “shouted in a loud voice and said board members didn’t know what they were talking about.”

LaPalm said board members Mayor Cooney, Wilfred Shier and Greg Oliver wanted to get rid of police chief Brian Foley.

The chief’s contract was to end in 2013, but was extended to 2015.

LaPalm said Chief Foley had wanted a 10-year contract.

He said Shier was investigating Foley’s ability to carry a gun and Cooney had sent an attack on board members and council to the media that was “devastating.”

LaPalm said he eventually resigned in the spring of 2011 because the “hostile atmosphere and threats were more than a volunteer should have to deal with.”

In cross-examination Patrick Hurley, lawyer for suspended board chair Greg Oliver, questioned why LaPalm didn’t tell the new board about the chief’s contract extension for about four months and why the extension went beyond the term of the council.

Belleville Police are asking for the public’s help to locate a missing teenaged girl.

Fourteen year-old Shannyn McConnell was last heard from at 6 p.m. yesterday and didn’t return from the Quinte Mall.

Shannyn McConnell is 5′ 6″ tall, with long blonde hair, and was wearing red jeans and a white top.

Anyone having information is asked to call Belleville Police or Crimestoppers.

Stirling Rawdon Police Chief Brian Foley has finished his testimony at the Ontario Civilian Police Commission hearing in Belleville.

Today, Chief Foley answered questions posed by Patrick Hurley, the  lawyer for suspended police board Chair, Greg Oliver.

Hurley questioned Foley about his reluctance, and sometimes refusal to answer questions from the public regarding the overtime costs caused by three Stirling Constables serving at the G8-G20 Summit, and the recording of his sick and vacation time.

Foley has always maintained he believes those issues shouldn’t have been dealt with in public, terming them “operational issues” and not the business of the board.

Foley said he believed the police board members were “hammering him” inappropriately on the issue in public.

Lawyer Hurley also questioned Chief Foley on what advice he offered to former board chair, Shawn LaPalm, after LaPalm called him about an accident his step-son was in involving a Belleville police cruiser.

LaPalm ended up calling Belleville Police Chief Cory McMullan on the issue.

The charge against his step-son was originally “careless driving” but was lessened to “following too closely”.

Chief McMullan will appear as a witness this week.

Shawn LaPalm is testifying this afternoon.

Wayne Michael Sanderson of Belleville was sentenced yesterday for a sexual assault on a teenager over 30 years ago in the Toronto area.

Justice Bonnie Croll said she didn’t believe the community would be in danger if the 56 year-old Sanderson were to serve a conditional sentence.

Sanderson, a former skating coach, was sentenced to six  months of house arrest followed by six months of probation.

Before the decision, Sanderson reiterated that he knew he was innocent of any crime.

Sanderson said he would appeal the sentence.

The Crown had asked for a jail sentence of three to five months plus probation.

It happened just before 4pm at the intersection of King and Mill Streets.

Quinte West Fire Chief John Whelan says the motorcycle rider and a pregnant woman have both been taken to hospital to be checked out.

More details will be released as they become available.

When Elmer Embury of Madoc died in 2010, he named the Hospital Foundation in his will.

Today at Embury’s sister’s home in Madoc, a cheque for $545,000 was presented to the Foundation.

BGHF Executive Director Drew Brown says Mr. Embury was a frequent patient who wanted to make sure people had the same chance for quality care that he did.

Brown says the money will be used to purchase new medical equipment at the hospital, but exactly what equipment will be bought, hasn’t been decided.