Integrity report finds mayor breached code of conduct

Belleville’s mayor breached the city’s code of conduct according to the city’s Integrity Commissioner, but city council has taken no steps that were recommended in his report.

Following a lengthy discussion at council Monday night, councillors voted to receive the Commissioner’s report.

Commissioner Tony Fleming found Mayor Mitch Panciuk breached the “code of conduct” in his use of an “acting” title associated with the hiring process for the second of three employees.

Those names were not mentioned in the report.

Councillors Pat Culhane and Kelly McCaw were found not to have breached the code.

Panciuk tells Quinte News he disagrees with some items but he accepts the report.

Panciuk tells Quinte News, “It’s unfortunate in this instance that a senior level of government didn’t feel they should come forward and say no. It’s hard for me when I get all the enthusiasm of heads nodding and people thinking it’s a great idea when all of a sudden, eight months on, we find out that wasn’t in fact how they felt.”

The commissioner found Panciuk breached the code by using the influence of his office to direct staff, and to exert pressure on the senior staff member to hire the first of the three employees indicated.

The report said Panciuk pressured the senior staffer to hire the employee, and breached a third time, by directing staff to include two otherwise-unqualified candidates in the interviews for a position.

Councillor Ryan Williams was outspoken in his remarks.

He said “Mayor Panciuk is not understanding the rules. We’re dealing with harassment.”

He added, “The only way we’re going to go forward is to have the recommendations by the integrity commissioner happen.”

He did not get a seconder for an amendment to the motion to accept the report’s recommendations.

Belleville Councillor Chris Malette, October 28, 2019 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)

Following the meeting, Councillor Chris Malette commented that he’s saddened by what has happened.

Councillor Kelly McCaw said the process was an “effort to defame” her, Culhane and Panciuk.

In answer to Wiliams’ comments McCaw said, “There are costs to these investigations and they had better be warranted and not weaponized. You need to stop looking for ways to settle the score and get down to the work that you’re here to do for the people.”