A long-time Chatham councillor is regretting some of his wording after an integrity commissioner report recommended that he be reprimanded for his conduct during a council meeting in May and for posts on social media.
A report by Chatham-Kent's Integrity Commissioner will go to council on Monday night with respect to complaints made against Councillor Michael Bondy.
As stated in the report, several complaints were lodged against Bondy by members of the public, council, and administration about Bondy's conduct up to and during a May 25 council meeting with regard to Victoria Avenue.
"It is rare for an integrity commissioner to get multiple persons expressing concerns about a potential breach of the Code of Conduct arising out of the same facts," read the report. "The matters referenced in this report were first brought to my attention in a request to investigate received on May 27 and the final person to reach out to me did so on June 22."
A list of complaints in the report notes "a pattern of disrespectful behaviour towards staff and council" by Bondy. It also cites comments made during the May 25 meeting and a Facebook post that alleged "corruption and collusion."
The report included several emails sent between Bondy, council, and staff in regard to Victoria Avenue reconstruction. The topic has been debated multiple times after initial design proposals to the historic street resulted in concerns and outrage among residents.
Before the council meeting in question, on May 10, Bondy had posted to Facebook about his motion going to council, which later failed 8-10.
"My fear is that the information report could put the proposal on the table and the design could be approved without my motion ever being heard. A sabotage could happen. I have seen it before and there is too much at stake to chance it," read the Facebook post. "Too bad things work this way but that is part of the new game."
Following the May 25 council meeting, Bondy took to Facebook to express his "disappointment" with council.
“Not easy. The corruption and collusion is so clear,” read Bondy's post. “Both sides. 1.5 metres wide. Goodbye boulevards.”
The comment generated replies from residents and other council members. Another social media post highlighted in the integrity commissioner report was unattributed but posted on the Facebook wall of a municipal staff member.
"Knock one of those trees down on Victoria. I dare you corporate paid sheep. Wake up and listen to the residents instead of going on your boring family vacations with tax payers money," read the post. "You’re payed by the people of CK and nobody wants bike lanes or trees removed on Victoria. Not one person except you. Try and cut one tree down. Try it.”
Following an investigation, Integrity Commissioner Mary Ellen Bench recommended in the report that council formally reprimand Bondy for violations within the Code of Conduct.
"In my opinion, Councillor Bondy has shown a lack of respect for the integrity of the role of council, and for the role of administration as set out in the Municipal Act, 2001," read the report. "He has sullied the reputation of members of staff and of the municipality as a result."
It's recommended that Bondy be asked to formally apologize to council and administration for his actions. However, if he refuses, Bench recommends that Bondy's pay should be suspended for one week. The suspension of remuneration for one week is $663.36.
Bondy sent an email addressed to council and staff on August 3, which Blackburn News has obtained.
"I wish to apologize to anyone I have offended with my overzealous behaviour during the May 25 council meeting regarding Victoria Avenue," said Bondy in an email. "I realize my choice of words during both live council and on various social media platforms hurt people’s feelings and were considered disrespectful to both council and some in administration. I am sorry for that."
When speaking with Blackburn News, Bondy said he regrets the wording used on Facebook and that some were made in the heat of the moment.
"I really do feel I was just fighting for my constituents, I didn't think I was terribly out of line but obviously I hurt some feelings and you can't do that today," he said.
Bondy said the apology he emailed to CK council and staff was not addressed to anyone in specific as the report did not specify who lodged the complaints. However, Bondy said he does have concerns moving forward as to what precedent this sets if complaints can be made anonymously and there's a possibility for repercussions.
He did admit to being surprised that complaints were made in the first place, which led to the integrity commissioner’s report. In regard to the May 25, 2020 council meeting specifically, Bondy said he has been in more heated debates before so he doesn't "understand" why the meeting in question sparked complaints.
"I didn't have one complaint from anybody after the meeting in the months following that said 'oh, you were out of line,'" said Bondy. "So I don't know really where this thing came from. I've been certainly more argumentative than that before."
Bondy was first elected to Chatham-Kent Council in 2010 and said this is the first time something like this has happened to him.
The full report going to Chatham-Kent Council on Monday can be found, here.