"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Saturday 10 January 2015

Code of Conduct

The Era has a story about  a complaint against Newmarket Regional Councillor John Taylor .

The details of the complaint are included in the story.

The Councillors reaction to the complaint are also.,

And a statement by Newmarket's CAO that an Integrity Commissioner will be appointed  and the complaint will be investigated in the New Year.

It is interesting . From a number of different angles.

I know John Taylor. Worked with him on the Joint Fire Service Committee. He pulled his weight.

He is a warm supporter of  Special Olympics . Came out on a bitter cold winter day to see them off on their trip to South Korea . And again to wait in the  dark and sub-zero temperatures to welcome home the champions.

The complaint provides an opportunity to examine the value of Code of Conduct legislation and how well it functions.

We will take it in pieces.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

The comments after the article in the Region are interesting too. Just first names used,

Anonymous said...

There are some similarities between that situation & one in Aurora in which a group appears to be given special treatment in receiving use of the town address and phone services. But I think that could be corrected without resorting to an actual complaint being filed.

Anonymous said...

How is this different than all the mayors across the region who hold their golf charity events?

Anonymous said...

Aurorans cannot really comment on how the system works. We have had one good integrity commissioner and one who left a lot to be desired. One thing for sure, it is going to take lots of time. That complaint was filed sometime in the fall.

Anonymous said...

18:48
This sounds personal rather than a town initiative. sort of like when then-cllr Ballard held a pricey event for the rangers. He passed that one off and it has been fine since.

Anonymous said...

It sounds personal because of the identity of the complainant or, more precisely, the identity of the complainant's wife.

Anonymous said...

Last year, the mayor of Richmond hill had a fund that's given to him every year to give out as he pleases to whatever or who ever he pleases. He apparently goes over his budgeted fund every year. A former councillor asked for him to pay the over expenditure back, council including the mayor voted he wouldn't have to. When the former councillor took the matter to the integrity commissioner, the mayor was cleared of any wrong doing. Taylor will probably be cleared, due to the same reason of the Richmond hill situation. They both didn't gain personally any financial interest.

Anonymous said...

09:29
Clr Ballard NEVER had the QYR Association fundraiser linked to him as a councillor!

He was related to a member of QYR. As well, "pricey" is relative.

I wish you people would let it go.

Anonymous said...

9:18- Your right..."pricey" is relative.
It was ridiculously expensive for the event.