Council suspends Brant County mayor’s pay for one day following integrity commissioner’s report

Brant County's mayor is facing consequences for comments he made to two people who spoke to council last year about a bridge closure. CTV's Tony Grace reports.

Brant County’s mayor is facing consequences for comments he made to two people who delegated to council last year.

During a meeting on Feb. 24, Brant County council received a report from Integrity Commissioner Melinda Munro, who recommended council suspend Mayor David Bailey’s salary for one day and encourage Bailey to apologize for his words.

The integrity commissioner’s investigation was launched after Andrea Bowden and Rosemary Prohaska spoke to council about the closure of Cleaver Road Bridge, which stretches over Whitemans Creek between Colborne Street West and Robinson Road.

Both women claimed Bailey addressed them in a manner that contravened the Code of Conduct.

The future of bridge has been a contentious topic over the past few years as it serves as a connection between the communities of Paris and Burford. Some residents have voiced concerns that closing the bridge could impede emergency responders.

During a special council meeting to review the county’s financial plan on Dec. 4, both delegates expressed their beliefs that the bridge should stay open.

Response to the delegates

Bowden spoke first.

In her report, Munro said Bowden was calm and measured during her presentation, which included various prior reports and materials.

After council and county staff were given an opportunity to ask questions and address her directly, Mayor Bailey also spoke.

“Andrea, my only thing that I want to say to you, and it’s really nothing about a bridge at all. It’s the final page of your submission here where you said, ”And finally in today’s mail, I got not one but two calendars. One from the city of Brantford and one from the county of Brant. And how much did this cost me as a taxpayer?” he said.

“I don’t know why you did that. It shows that you’re questioning the way we spend money. I don’t know really why you did that because it just took, to me, it took all your credibility away when you when you got so petty at the last, and kind of mean-spirited when you didn’t need to,” he continued.

Prohaska had her opportunity to address council next.

After she spoke, Bailey noted he has also heard from other residents who want to see the bridge closed.

“You people have taken a vocal stance on what you want, and I understand that. When I thought the emergency vehicles were going up there and I thought that would be very unsafe and I had sympathy for you,” Bailey said. “But you have to understand there’s a whole different group of people in your neighbourhood who represent other addresses which are very close to the bridge that don’t want it open. So please know that you don’t represent everyone. You really, truly don’t.”

Days later, during a meeting on Dec. 18, council voted on the Cleaver Road Bridge. During that meeting, Bailey said, “I just have one comment that when the delegation came the other day, they said we were mandated and we were elected by people to listen to the people. And I think there are people that speak loud and there are people that speak quietly. And I’ve had just as many people that want the bridge closed quietly.”

“But when you’re told that you’ve been elected to represent the people, you should represent all people, not just loud people. All people,” he continued.

Integrity Commissioner’s findings

In her report, Munro said the behaviour of both delegates was appropriate and respectful.

When it comes to Bowden’s complaint, Munro said Bailey breached the procedural bylaw and Code of Conduct when he called her “petty,” “mean-spirited,” and lacking in credibility.

“Further, in his reference to the Complainant, at a subsequent meeting where she was not present, as loud and as disregarding the interests of her neighbours, he aggravated the initial breach through discrediting the Complainant’s credibility and ethics in a public forum and on video in a manner that violates the Code’s admonition to avoid aggressive and abusive conduct and to treat members of the public with respect,” the integrity commissioner’s report said.

As for Prohaska’s complaint, the commissioner found that when Bailey spoke directly to her after her presentation to challenge her statements, he was attempting to undermine her credibility rather than ask for clarification.

“His comments about emergency services suggested that he considered her dishonest, or at best disingenuous. When in a subsequent meeting he referred to the Complainant as loud and as disregarding the interests of her neighbours, he was discrediting the Complainant’s credibility and ethics in a public forum and on video in a manner that violates the Code’s admonition to avoid aggressive and abusive conduct and to treat members of the public with respect,” Munro wrote.

The integrity commissioner’s report states Bailey breached the Code of Conduct in regard to:

• conducting himself in a way that maintains public confidence and avoids aggressive, offensive or abusive conduct
• advancing public interest with honesty and treating members of the public with dignity, understanding and respect
• conducting himself in a civil manner with decorum
• treating members of the public, fellow council members and employees appropriately, without abuse, bullying or intimidation

Munro recommended council impose a one-day remuneration suspension and said the mayor should be encouraged to apologize to the complainants.

Council accepted the recommendations.