A lawyer serving as Integrity Commissioner (IC) for the Township of Stirling-Rawdon hasn’t swerved much from an original report into the conduct of Councillor Sari Watson, first delivered in October of last year.
In a story Quinte News published at that time, Integrity Commissioner John Ewart said Watson fell short of council’s Code of Conduct on several occasions and ignored or was ignorant of some of council’s policies, procedures, and by-laws.
Complaints from unidentified persons spurred that original investigation. Ewart went on to state that Watson’s behaviour frustrated other members of council and senior municipal staff and showed a lack of respect.
In her defence Watson maintained she had not been given time to respond and the Integrity Commissioner invited her to respond.
In the IC’s latest report, filed October 21, he finds Watson failed to adhere to the Standards of Conduct in the Municipal Code of Conduct, failed to adhere to policies and procedures, failed to respect the decision-making process of council, and failed to respect members of council and staff.
Ewart also found that Watson did not break conflict of interest rules and did not release information which could be interpreted as a contravention of the Municipal Code of Conduct.
As he did in his original report, the IC did not recommend sanctions or penalties of a financial nature against Watson but lamented that issues between council members are ongoing and since August of last year other complaints have been made.
Stirling-Rawdon Mayor Bob Mullin is expected to make a statement on sanctions on behalf of council by the end of the week.
See the latest Integrity Commissioner’s report in its entirety here.
Municipal Integrity Commissioner John Ewart reads his report at special meeting of Stirling-Rawdon council. (Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
