Belleville’s mayor has called on members of council to stop using the Integrity Commissioner “as a weapon.”
Mayor Mitch Panciuk made the statement at the city council meeting Monday night.
Councillors had just received the latest report from Integrity Commissioner Tony Fleming regarding Councillor Ryan Williams.
The report covered four code of conduct allegations against Williams, including that he used his influence to change hotel reservations for a member of council.
The report showed the commissioner found no evidence against Williams.
The complainant’s or complainants’ names were not made public in the report.
Councillor Pat Culhane addressed council, referring to a municipal conference in Toronto in February of 2019. She charged that Williams had changed her hotel room from the conference hotel, the Sheraton, to another one.
“Staff were finally able to get me a room at more than the conference rate and I missed the keynote speaker. I object to the finding (of the commissioner). I do not accept it, it is fundamentally flawed.”
Williams called the allegations in the report a “lot of retribution.”
Williams, who is in the hotel business, said, “There were no issues when I booked rooms in South Korea (for a city visit there) and saved taxpayers money.”
He noted the Integrity Commissioner had cost the city $60,000 in two years.
Panciuk said the enquiries were done purely to cause “political damage.”
“It causes ill will around the table.”
He emphasized that if a councillor is not satisfied in dealing face to face with another councillor they should bring it to the floor of council chambers.
Panciuk added “revenge has no place in this chamber.”
The mayor also said that if there are any other complaints before the commissioner by members of council, “I ask you to withdraw them. Please stop it.”
The allegations were listed as:
–Failing to disclose a pecuniary interest – Economic Development and Destination Marketing meeting related to Municipal Accommodation Tax
–Using his office to influence the vote through his brother, legal council or another member of QAAA re MAT funding
–Using influence of office to award contracts to a member of Quintevation, a body he founded
–Using influence of office to have staff change reservations for members of council to a hotel which benefited the Williams Hotels chain
