Saskatoon city councillor subject of 3 Integrity Commissioner complaints
A Saskatoon city councillor was the subject of Integrity Commissioner investigations in connection to three separate complaints.
The complaints involving Coun. Darren Hill are outlined in reports from the city's Integrity Commissioner submitted to council ahead of Monday's meeting.
The reports outline how Hill allegedly shared confidential "in camera" information during a public council meeting as he fought to keep his role as a board Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) member.
Hill lost council's support for the FCM position after his future as a councillor was in jeopardy in the wake of late campaign expense filings.
The Ward 1 councillor attributed the lapse to a series of health issues which included a brain injury and lingering effects from COVID-19.
A judge eventually ruled Hill's breach of protocol was inadvertent, citing Hill's health issues in his decision.
Integrity Commissioner Randy Langgard is recommending council censure Hill in the form of a letter of reprimand for the alleged breach of confidentiality.
However, the commissioner accepted Hill's health issues likely contributed to two other complaint's investigated by his office.
One complaint, filed by city manager Jeff Jorgenson, related to "numerous alterations" in July 2020 to a shared meeting and lunch room near a cubicle area reserved for councillors at City Hall.
Carpets, countertops, wall coverings and furniture were damaged, according to the commissioner's report. Hill stopped his activities when asked by Jorgenson.
Hill did not dispute the complaint and apologized for his actions, the commissioner said in the report.
The estimated cost of repairs was $10,000, however Jorgenson acknowledged some of the work would have been necessary in any event.
Another complaint, centered around Hill's attempts to specifically identify a parking enforcement officer who erroneously issued parking warning notices in his ward in September 2020.
After a series of calls and emails to staff at the city's parking enforcement division, Hill posted a video on his website "attacking or disparaging" the unit on his website, according to the commissioner's report.
At the time, Hill believed that some within the parking enforcement unit were "purposefully undermining his campaign for re-election in 2020," the commissioner said in the report.
"Coun. Hill has sought and is receiving medical treatment for his health challenges. He accepts that his thinking at the time in question was erroneous," Langgard wrote.
While the commissioner said Hill's health challenges are a mitigating factor, he does recommend action on Hill's part.
Langgard said Hill should make a written apology to the parking enforcement department and the manager responsible for the unit.
The commissioner also recommends Hill take down the video connected to the complaint from his website.
In regards to Jorgenson's complaint, Langgard said the city manager should determine if any financial loss to the city can be quantified and if so, Jorgenson should decide if the cost should be recovered from Hill.
After a delay, Jorgenson only raised the complaint "for the record," the commissioner said.
Langgard's report is expected to be discussed during Monday's regular City Council meeting.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.