Complaints made to the Integrity Commissioner in Quinte West can cost a pretty penny.
Earlier this year Quinte News filed a Freedom of Information request regarding to two complaints submitted to the municipal Integrity Commissioner Tony Fleming.
The first was in regards to the February 8 2023 meeting of Quinte West council, where members discussed the vacant Sidney Ward seat.
During the meeting there was a heated exchange between Councillor Duncan Armstrong and Mayor Jim Harrison, which continued outside after the meeting.
The confrontation included an allegation that Harrison called Armstrong “an a**hole” multiple times, before both left separately.
The Mayor is said to have called Armstrong to apologize, an apology which was not accepted at the time.
Following the report, Mayor Harrison publicly apologized and was stripped of two weeks salary.
The apology was then accepted by Armstrong.
Quinte News requested the legal expenses incurred by the municipality. According to the FOI records, the investigation cost more than $14,700.
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There was a more recent complaint made to the Integrity Commissioner.
It is in regards to an incident in November 2024, in council chambers.
Resident Ed Santos submitted a complaint against Duncan Armstrong, where the Trenton Ward Councillor walked past him.
Armstrong can be seen on video pointing his hand towards Santos, in a gesture that appears to be mimicking a gun.
Armstrong told the Commissioner he meant no ill will toward Santos.
Fleming said the gesture showed disrespect and was below the standard of conduct expected from a councillor.
The Commissioner suggested council reprimand Armstrong and recommended he make a public apology.
Council voted to receive the report from the Integrity Commissioner, but did not order a public apology or reprimand.
According to the FOI, that complaint cost the municipality just under $3,200 in legal expenses.
Quinte News has been told that Santos has filed another complaint against Councillor Armstrong, however we have no details at this time.
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Integrity Commissioner Tony Fleming (bottom middle of virtual attendees) speaks to Quinte West Council
Meantime, Councillors have asked for clarifications on the process.
By provincial law, each municipality must have an Integrity Commissioner, where residents, municipal staff/council can submit complaints against municipality staff/council.
In January, Councillor Michael Kotsovos asked Fleming what recourse council has if a complaint to the Integrity Commissioner is unsubstantiated?
Fleming – “Any member of the public, any member of staff, member of council can make a complaint to me about a member of council. We look at the complaint and we consider whether or not it’s a complaint that falls underneath the Code of Conduct. A number of municipalities that I am Integrity Commissioner for, I receive complaints that do not fall underneath the Code of Conduct. I dismiss those complaints without an investigation. If the facts as alleged in the complaint were true, then there would be a breach of the Code of Conduct. “
Kotsovos replied that it is unfair for the remaining residents of Quinte West to be paying out of their taxes for complaints that may be unsubstantiated, just because someone has a disagreement with someone else.
Councillor Dave O’Neil proposed a fee system for complaints. His suggestion was that if the complaint was deemed viable, then a portion/all of the fee would be reimbursed.
O’Neil says this would “get rid of some of these frivolous claims that go to you (Tony Fleming).”
