Close to 50 people filled the modest Stirling-Rawdon council chambers Tuesday night and heard a municipal Integrity Commissioner read a report critical of councillor Sari Watson.
The Commissioner, John Ewart of Ewart O’Dwyer Barristers and Solicitors, did not mention Watson’s name or that of anyone else but it was abundantly clear that his report was about her conduct on council.
Municipal Integrity Commissioner John Ewart reads his report at special meeting of Stirling-Rawdon council. (Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
Although Ewart did find Watson fell short of meeting council’s Code of Conduct on several occasions and ignored or was ignorant of some of council’s policies, procedures and by-laws he stopped short of recommending financial penalties or other sanctions against her.
“I would hope that this report alone will be a catalyst toward council moving forward in a more positive manner for the rest of its term. I do not find penalties and sanctions to be necessary in this particular case.”
Complaints were made to the Commissioner regarding events that occurred from March of this year until mid-August.
The complaints against Watson involved both open and closed meetings of council and committees.
The Integrity Commissioner found that the councillor often ignored council procedure, failed to vote, forced recorded votes on non-controversial issues, and repeatedly brought forward issues that had already been decided by council.
Ewart also found that Watson often brought up issues of singular interest to her with some being outside council’s responsibility.
The Commissioner said the behaviour frustrated other members of council and senior municipal staff and caused time to be wasted when other matters of more importance could have been dealt with.
Ewart said Watson’s conduct showed a lack of respect for others on council and senior staff, many of whom have years of experience in municipal governance.
Stirling-Rawdon councillor Sari Watson. (Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
Ewart interviewed members of council, municipal staff, and members of the interested public before arriving at his conclusions. He believed he received excellent response from everyone involved.
The meeting began with councillor Watson asking that the public be allowed to ask questions after the report had been read by the Commissioner. Mayor Bob Mullin simply said council was following the municipality’s Procedural By-law which does not allow for questions at a Special Council Meeting which this particular meeting was. There was no seconder for her motion.
When Commissioner Ewart finished reading his report Watson spoke out telling the Commissioner she couldn’t believe what she was reading. “Where are the complaints about the bullying and threats against me? I and others told you about them and other issues too. There’s no mention of those in here at all!”
The meeting was quickly brought to a close as per the agenda and council, senior staff, and the Commissioner went behind closed doors to discuss the report in private. No one on council or staff had seen the report prior to the meeting.
Many people leaving the building could be heard complaining about not having the chance to ask questions or express their opinions.
The Integrity Commissioner’s Report and any council decisions regarding it are expected to be posted on Stirling-Rawdon’s website sometime next month.
