It looks like Erin’s Integrity Commission will have his hands full in the coming months.
On Sept. 9, CAO Kathryn Ironmonger informed council that the tally of code of ethics complaints is growing.
Last month, Ironmonger had reported there were two code of ethics complaints lodged. Last week she told council there is now a total of five (an additional complaint was lodged on Sept. 10, the day after the meeting).
Ironmonger reported that integrity commissioner Robert J. Williams was out of the country, but the complaints will be forwarded to him upon his return.
“Did you say five [complaints]?” asked councillor John Brennan.
“Yes,” Ironmonger responded.
Mayor Lou Maieron asked how much money was in the budget to deal with the complaints.
“Not enough,” Brennan said.
Ironmonger explained, “this is business as we go. If you do not foresee something, it is an un-financed expenditure.”
Details as to who launched the complaints, or against whom, was not made available. That information will be revealed once the commissioner files his reports.
Ironmonger noted it will be up to the commissioner to determine if any of the complaints filed warrant further investigation.
The town has already had to deal with two previous code of ethics complaints against Mayor Lou Maieron.
In both cases, the mayor was found to have breached numerous sections of the Town of Erin Code of Ethics.
Following the latter of the two commissioner reports and subsequent council decisions, Maieron suggested he would proceed with his own integrity complaints against other councillors.
“… And we’re going to see how much fun the code of conduct is for others,” Maieron said in July.
