By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Chatham-Kent council will decide Sept. 8 whether to go forward with sanctions against Chatham Coun. Alysson Storey as recommended by the municipality’s Integrity Commissioner.
In a 76-page report released Aug. 13, Suzanne Craig recommends that council impose a formal reprimand against Storey for violating sections of the code of conduct for one complaint.
An additional formal reprimand and suspension of 10 days’ remuneration is also recommended in relation to a second complaint.
According to the report, Craig launched an investigation into Storey’s actions, as well as those of North Kent. Coun. Rhonda Jubenville, mainly in relation to comments made at a town hall meeting in Dresden on Oct. 20, 2024, held to discuss the Chatham-Kent Community Hub project. The meeting was organized by members of the community and was not sanctioned by the municipality. Municipal staff did not attend.
In the report, Craig states that Storey’s conduct “undermined staff.”
At issue, said Craig, were comments made by Storey that municipal staff were not providing full financial details about the C-K Hub project and that the development was not fully accessible.
Storey alluding to the fact that rural library services might need to be closed to pay for the hub was another problem, Craig surmised.
“A councillor may speak on a matter of importance to the community but may not make misstatements about staff’s advice or drive a narrative which undermines staff reports through unsupported suggestions,” the IC wrote.
“She (Storey) gave oxygen to inaccurate comments generally in the community, that the municipal staff and council had not turned their minds to accessibility concerns and whether services, including that libraries, would be closed and taxes increased because of a discussion at council that asked staff to seek a 7.5-per-cent reduction in the budget,” the report said.
“Respondent 1 (Storey) did much more than state her concerns and/or lack of support for the CKHub project as approved on an interim basis by council. Each member of council is entitled to voice their disagreement with stated positions of their colleagues, and recommendations of staff reports, but members are not entitled to disparage the majority’s decision of council and suggest as fact, outcomes that have not been set out by the staff.”
Although, Jubenville was named in the probe, as a complaint was filed against her as well, Craig did not find Jubenville’s actions contravened the code of conduct.
It’s the second time Jubenville has been part of an IC probe. C-K’s former IC Mary Ellen Bench found Jubenville’s conduct around social media posts relating to flying Pride flags on municipal property as well as at a school in Blenheim as a violation of the code of conduct.
In 2023, council voted 13 to 3 to dock Jubenville three month’s pay – the harshest penalty available.
Jubenville took the matter to court and in June of this year a three-judge panel ruled that while the councillor had violated council’s code in a discreditable manner, Bench’s decision that Jubenville has made improper use of influence was deemed “unreasonable.”
As a result, Jubenville was awarded $20,000 and Bench’s report was quashed.
Jubenville said Friday the matter is expected to return to council before the end of the year.
Comments from Storey and the municipality were not available as of press time.
So she spoke her mind standing up for the people of CK. Can’t you people find anything better to do with your time? Or is it just that you need to justify your pay from the taxpayers?