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Time for Grimsby 4 to resign
Grimsby residents know who they are. Mayor Jeff Jordan Coun. Dorothy Bothwell Coun. Reg Freake Coun. Lianne Vardy These elected officials’ services are clearly redundant and obviously no longer required, so they may as well just pack it in now and save the municipality a few bucks by getting the heck out of Dodge. Why not? It is clear their polar opposites - the Grimsby 5 - have everything well in hand. Between The 5’s control of every key vote town council has taken along with a plethora of painfully minor votes – which still manage to take up a ton of time and energy – there really is no need for serious debate and bitter discord is all too common, so why not do the honourable thing and just step aside and let the inmates run the asylum? Anyone who has followed any municipal council, nay, anybody of elected officials anywhere, has seen more crazy antics in the just over two years this council has been in place. With the best of intentions, Grimsby residents opted for near wholesale change with its council, and that needed to happen, but there was no way to know three of those successful candidates would come up lemons and one would evolve from a beacon of light to, well... words are indescribable to sufficiently explain the level of disappointment evident in the community. This hubbub over a phone call by the mayor after his email, seemingly, was hacked to allow for personal emails to magically appear on the doorstep of Coun. Kevin Ritchie is beyond the pale. Most would think calling the person at the other end of the emails to see if they had forwarded them on was acting in the best interests of the community. Not The 5. No, not only did they decide to overstep the findings of the Integrity Commissioner, but they decided - as part of a 9.5 hour council meeting - to rope in every decision they could find from incidents where closed session information had been divulged province - wide and apply sanctions in Grimsby’s case. This, of course after the IC dubbed the matter “trivial”, many times over. Nope, The 5 know better - so time for The 4 to pack their bags and leave The 5 to continue with what they’ve been doing – running the Town into the ground. M.W.
Circ: 26,529
Anatomy of a disenfranchisement
(Editor’s Note: The following is a word-for-word account of the lengthy debate conducted at Grimsby’s Town Council meeting of Tuesday, 16. It is NOT a transcript. There some simple introductions, jibberish and nonrelevant chatter left out, but all are welcome to go to grimsby.ca and follow along with the recording. For the purposes of this article, tidbits of information are interjected in bold copy at various points to draw of facts previously addressed when Integrity Commissioner Charles Harnick released his findings in a complaint filed by Coun. Randy Vaine vs Mayor Jeff Jordan – findings in which Mr. Harnick determined the actions of the mayor were “trivial” and “without consequence”.
Report CAO 21-06: Reporting on Costs and Related Cases for Integrity Commission Complaint (Vaine-Jordan) At the Feb. 1 meeting of Grimsby Council, Integrity Commissioner Charles Harnick released his findings into a complaint filed by Coun. Randy Vaine. Harnick found that Mayor Jeff Jordan - by calling “the individual” to see if he had forwarded Coun. Kevin Ritchie confidential emails - had disclosed closed session information. Harnick found the mayor asking “the individual” about the emails was a breach of the Town’s Code of Conduct. While giving his report at the Feb. 1 meeting, Harnick repeatedly called the matter
“trivial” and of “no consequence” and recommended no penalty whatsoever. However, with five councillors - Ritchie, Dave Kadwell, Dave Sharpe, John Dunstall and Vaine voting in favour, council passed the following motion: “Resolved that the Town Clerk through the Office of the CAO be directed to report any cost that is affiliated with this matter and report back to the Committee of the Whole; and That the Town Clerk through the Office of the CAO look into related cases in the Province of Ontario where closed session information has been disclosed and prepare a report to Committee of the Whole at the earliest opportunity for further discussion” This motion was approved after Harnick recommended against any such measure noting repeatedly that each case has its own set of facts and matching up findings from other cases and applying them to the Vaine vs Jordan case was senseless.
DEBATE ON REPORT CAO 21-06 Jordan - CAO? Are you going to speak on that? CAO Harry Schlange - No, I had not planned to. Coun. Ritchie pulled the report and can speak to it. Jordan - Alright, fair enough. Coun. Ritchie, do you want to go ahead or I see Coun. Sharpe’s hand is up? Ritchie - We can let Coun.
Sharpe speak first. If you like. Jordan - Sure. Coun. Sharpe. Sharpe - Thanks, Mayor Jordan. I’ve taken some time and I’ve gone through this and I’ve written some things down, so if you’ll bear with me...On July 13th, council went into closed session based on certain email correspondence that was delivered to Coun. Ritchie anonymously. During the closed session meeting, council made resolutions regarding the content of these emails. On July 14th, CAO Schlange received an email from an individual with a series of emails between the individual, Mayor Jordan and Coun. (Reg) Freake. The CAO confirmed that these emails were the emails read by Coun. Ritchie at the July 13 closed session meeting. Mayor Jordan considered it imperative to contact the individual and notify them and he wanted to ascertain if there was a possibility that the data breach had occurred on the individual’s end. The individual has disclosed that he and the mayor had talked about the July 13 closed session. The individual confirmed that he knew about the emails that had come into Coun. Ritchie’s possession, but he didn’t know anything else other than about the emails, that they talked of nothing other than the security breach and that he gleaned no knowledge of the resolutions that were dealt with at the closed council session on July 13. The mayor alleges that he See ANATOMY, Page 2
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ANATOMY From Page 1
contacted the individual regarding a security breach. In these circumstances, if indeed there was a security breach, the mayor should have directed the CAO to investigate or he should have sought legal advice from the Town’s legal council or taken the matter to full council. The Integrity commissioner found that Mayor Jordan contacted the individual to determine if he was the one who disclosed the emails to Coun. Ritchie and not for advice regarding a security breach. He found that the actions taken by the mayor were not required by law as set out in the section of the code governing closed meetings. At no time, has Mayor Jordan disputed that the call to “the individua” breached the Town’s code of conduct, however, he has stated his conduct was always motivated by the the best interests of the municipality. The mayor acknowledges that, in hindsight, perhaps he should have informed council or the CAO of these actions at the time he initiated them. Staff has determined in report CAO2106 that is before us that the individual charged the Town of Grimsby $1,302.62 with regards to the discussion that he had with Mayor Jordan about the closed session on July 13. I am disappointed that Mr. Harnick made a finding that the matter was trivial and without consequence when a simple request from Town staff shows that this breach cost just over $1,300. Since it has been determined by the IC that Mayor Jordan contacting this individual was a breach of our code of conduct, I think it is appropriate that Mayor Jordan should pay the bill for contacting this individual and not the Town of Grimsby. Motion made by Sharpe, Seconded by Ritchie. Ritchie - Reading a perpared comment - When we as a council asked staff to report on expenses regarding this item, it was due to the fact that the question was asked of the IC if any costs were incurred for Mayor Jordan’s actions that were against our code of conduct. In the report, there were three specific costs incurred. Two of those costs are items I would classify as a cost of doing business. However, the third item, charges from the individual, who Mayor Jordan spoke with about
the closed session items. Now, we can believe that this issue was pertaining to a security breach, but what kind of security breach. Nowhere in the report does it state a Town of Grimsby security breach and I believe there’s a reason for that. However, I do believe the mayor had the opportunity to bring this up during the closed session of July 13, 2020. We know this because the IC reported that the mayor spoke with the individual some time after the meeting and that the individual emailed our CAO the very next day, which provided conclusive proof of the disclosure. If a security breach, the IC states that the mayor should have contacted the CAO or he should have contacted the Town’s retained legal council. Or discussed this matter with council, even that night. None of this is what happened. Now a few councillors have expressed their concern with how I received these emails. I would like to state that I am proud that someone trusted me enough to do the right thing. It is in this report that several motions were put forward the night of July 13, 2020. Now, the IC found this issue trivial and without consequence. When I look at the report from staff, I see a bill, with a conversation between Mayor Jordan and the individual for the discussion that night. Do you not think the Town should be responsible for the actions that were found to be in breach of our code of conduct? I support Councillor Sharpe’s motion and I ask that he put a friendly amendment to it that IC report 11767-1020 be forwarded to those individuals pertaining to the directions given by council be it various resolutions from the closed session of July 13, 2020. Sharpe - I’m ok with that. Vardy - My question is to the CAO and what I’d like to know, if you can detail for me, what that bill for $1,300 some-odd was for? Was it for the conversation with the mayor or was it for something else? Perhaps you could detail for us what that bill was for, because I think we’re making an assumption that this was for a conversation between the mayor and the individual and I don’t think we should make decisions based on assumptions. Schlange - It was basically just around the situation of the security breach. That individual billed us for that amount. Vardy - Further to that, though, was that for conversation, perhaps, the individual had with you and perhaps
research you had directed the individual to do? Schlange - Research I had asked the individual to do? Absolutely not. Vardy - I’m sure we are not getting billed $1,300 for a phone conversation, so could you please detail what that bill is for? Schlange - It was a phone conversation with the mayor and then a follow up email to me and a slight phone conversation with me. That’s what the bill’s for. Vardy – Could you please provide those particulars to council? Schlange – I don’t have any particulars on that. Vardy - Well, you have emails that were sent to you. I’d like to see those before we start making any kind of decision. Schlange – laughing – Mayor I have no further information on this other than the individual billed us for that amount talking about a security breach.
I certainly don’t like...... Ritchie – Point of Order again... Vardy - “the undercurrent of what’s going on. Please don’t interrupt me, Coun. Ritchie. You constantly do that.” Ritchie - You’re making assumptions. Vardy - It is completely inappropriate. Vaine – Point of Order, inaudible comments Vardy - Coun. Vaine, you’re out of order.
At this point, Coun. Ritchie is about to set off a series of Points of Order. This is something which happens at nearly every council meeting - almost always incorrectly used and out of order all on its own. A Point of Order is not a tool to interject because one has a differing opinion, or wants to state some other facts. Under the Province of Ontario’s Municipal Act: 1.31 “Point of Order” means a statement made by a Member during a meeting, drawing the attention of the Mayor or his/her designate to a breach of the Rules of Procedure;
Jordan – Coun. Vaine that will be your second warning. Vaine – Let me give you a warning about the Integrity Commissioner, sir, because we’re going to go there again. Jordan – Alright, that’s a threat I guess. Bothwell – I would say that was the third call and I think he should be ejected for that comment. Vardy - I concur. Bothwell – I don’t know what you do, mayor here, but he continued to be persistent, he violated...that was number 3, strike out. Vaine – Excuse me, Coun. Vardy... inaudible comments...She’s continuing to do it, so I’m not doing anything different than Coun. Vardy. If you wish to throw us both out, please go ahead. I have no problem with that, but I’m not doing anything out of order here. I called Point of Order, which I am legally allowed to do. You have no right to call me on that.
Ritchie – Mr. Mayor, Point of Order. We had received the emails, if Coun. Vardy remembers correctly, two weeks later in another closed session, so we have seen what the emails are... Vardy – Point of Order – please don’t interrupt me. Coun. Ritchie, my question to the CAO was could he please reveal the details of the bill that was provided by the individual because I am sure a two-minute phone call doesn’t cost $1,300. Ritchie – And again, a Point of Order. I think that if we’re going to do this, I caution we may need to go into closed session to discuss the details. Vardy - I am fine with that, if that needs be, but all I have asked for is the CAO to provide the email to council of the email correspondence that he had with the individual or that we ask the individual what was actually billed for because I do not believe a two-minute conversation cost $1,300. There is more to this than what is being revealed here and
Coun. Sharpe chuckles at the display. Jordan – Coun. Vaine you’re out of order. Vardy - Coun. Vaine, you’re out of order. Vaine kept arguing Jordan - Coun. Vardy as well. Vaine kept speaking while Vardy attempted to continue with her inquiry.
As noted earlier, a Point of Order is purely to question a point of procedure, not differing opinion. Jordan – Well, I am overruling you right now. Thank you, Coun. Vaine, let’s just move forward. Bothwell - It you’d like me to proceed, thank you, mayor. My question is as well that I believe with respect to the motion, that it is premature and that it is important that council have all the information in front of us and that the $1.302.62 be broken down specifically into...because
See BILL, Page 3
News Now • Thursday, February 25, 2021 • Page 3
BILL From Page 2 the individual’s charged by time, I’m assuming, so the breakdown needs to show how that cost was arrived at. I’m not comfortable deciding on something where we don’t have all the information tonight. The Integrity Commissioner has made a ruling and a decision that it was inconsequential, the mayor’s actions, and that there be no penalty. As a result, this is creating a financial penalty to the mayor and I’d like to know from the clerk, or legal, if that’s setting a precedent where now we’re taking the Integrity Commissioner’s recommendation and we’re actually doing something that is outside the Municipal Act where we’re now putting a penalty on the mayor and asking him to reimburse a cost as a result of this Integrity Comissioner investigation, so I need to know more about that, too. Is that a practice that is acceptable or not and I think the clerk needs to come back to us, or the CAO, with whether that creates a precedent or even if it is permitted. Note: According to the Municipal Act, no penalties shall be levied “for any act done in good faith in the performance or intended performance of a duty”: Whereas Section 448 (1) under the heading of “Immunity” of The Ontario Municipal Act (Part XV Municipal Liability) states “No proceeding for damages or otherwise shall be commenced against a member of council or an officer, employee or agent of a municipality or a person acting under the instructions of the officer, employee or agent for any act done in good faith in the performance or intended performance of a duty or authority under this Act or a by-law passed under it or for any alleged neglect or default in the performance in good faith of the duty or authority. 2001, c. 25, s. 448 (1). Kadwell- I think we need to have some more information because I don’t know where Coun. Vardy is saying a two-minute phone call. I am not aware of that. Also, I believe there is a breach of code of conduct here by you, Mr. Mayor, so will there be an apology to this or have you made an apology I am not aware of, so I’m just throwing that out. Vaine - I just want to clarify a couple of things. Everybody’s talking about a two-minute conversation. Had there been zero conversation, there would be zero bill. So I do tend to support Coun. Ritchie. I also take offence that
you are accusing me of things you are allowing other councillors to get away from...with...and I find that very offensive. I am very disappointed and I will be pursuing it, so I just want that on the record. I have asked the clerk for the exact time of this moment and I’ve asked her to send me that time because I do believe, sir, you are showing a very big bias here and you’re showing very much favouritism towards certain councillors and yet when I speak to object exactly the same way other councillors do that are friends with you, you jump on me for that and threaten me for that, so that’s most inappropriate.
there. I believe the IC commissioner also interviewed this individual so I’m just wondering if that is part of the cost. We do need to find more details as we all, more or less, agree. So, I am hoping the mayor or CAO will come back with more details on that. I am sure the mayor acted in very good faith whatever he did. I’m sure he wasn’t doing anything untoward or anything that was criminal or illicit. I think we’re making a mountain out of a molehill. This is dragging it out too long and causing a lot of grief on this council and on this Town so, hopefully, we can get this sorted and move on.
NOTE: The record does not indicate a threat.
Sharpe – When we made this resolution to refer this to the clerk for a report, at the time, when...so there was an email that was sent to all of us, all my fellow councillors were copied on that email from this individual outlining this security breach, talking about that we need to have an investigation done of our town servers. To my knowledge, these emails weren’t from Town of Grimsby email addresses, they were from personal email addresses but, um, the Integrity Commissioner made a ruling, he made a finding that if there was a security breach it should have been directed to the CAO or to the Town’s legal counsel or to full council to make a decision.
Vaine continuing - As far as the conversation, if you had not made the original phone call we wouldn’t be here right now. And that complaint, it was not Vaine vs Jordan, it was a majority of council voted to file that complaint against you. I was told to put my name on it. NOTE: Vaine did not elaborate on who told him to act. Vaine continuing - That’s the only reason my name is on there so, if you’re upset with me I’m sorry about that but you’ve got to show some professionalism here and I don’t believe you are when you start attacking me personally and it has been noted by many people in the public as well as myself, Mayor Jordan... Vardy - Point of Order Jordan – Let him speak Vaine – Thank you, I appreciate that, your worship. But, all I am saying is let’s all try to be professional here. I know this is uncomfortable for you and I appreciate that, but the point is, if the Integrity Commissioner makes a suggestion, his own words were it is only a suggestion and the council can do whatever they wish. All I’m asking is to be treated fairly and not in a biased way toward myself. That’s what I’m asking for. And as far as the call, If the phone call hadn’t been made, had you done protocol and gone to the CAO or even brought it to us, this wouldn’t be a conversation at all right now. I am not attacking you personally. That’s all I have to say, thank you. Jordan – Just for the scoring, both you and Coun. Vardy have two warnings. Freake - I must admit, there is not enough information here. I question the $1,302. It couldn’t have been a phone call. I couldn’t imagine a phone call would cost $1,300, but I’m sure that there must be something in
NOTE: Sharpe divulged additional closed session items right there as there had been no prior information about what the source of the emails in question was. Sharpe continuing - Instead, it was directed to this individual and so I knew that when this complaint was filed. I had already spoken to staff six months ago or however long ago this was in July of 2019. Staff told me, ya, there was a bill that this individual billed the Town. So I didn’t think we should be contacting this individual. We made resolutions with regard to the content of these emails and, essentially, the mayor tipped him off that we’re....It’s not hard to put two and two together when you know what the content of the emails are and you know we’ve gone into closed session to discuss them, that it’s a tip off and I was uncomfortable with that. So, knowing that there was a charge to this, we asked the clerk to...we resolved that the town clerk, through the office of the CAO, be directed to report any costs that were associated with this matter and to look into related cases within the Province of Ontario where closed session infor-
mation had been disclosed. NOTE: Integrity Commissioner Harnick repeatedly stated when presenting his initial findings that all cases are unique and include their own set of facts and circumstances, therefore, seeking other cases in a province wide review would be fruitless. Under repeated quesioning, he reiterated this point several times, noting the incident was “trivial” to begin with. Sharpe continued - In that report, she says that $1,300.62 were charges from the individual in regards to the closed session matter. We don’t have an itemized breakdown of what those charges are, but they there were charges in relation to the closed session matter. The clerk has brought us that charge and, if we’re letting people charge us for things that are not....then we have a procurement issue with staff allowing people to just give us random bills but, presuming we only pay bills that are legitimate, this is a legitimate bill and the matter was the closed session item of July 13. Then further in this report, while not inclusive of all reports in Ontario, upon review of some cases involving disclosure of confidential closed session material, actions that were recommended included no sanction, a warning, an apology verbal or written, training, communication or restriction or a communication ban, sorry...renumeration or repayment or paid suspension. So we’re not reinventing the wheel. NOTE: Harnick noted several times penalities in other cases from across the province would not be relevent to this file and he found not even requiring an apology was in order. Sharpe continued - When we asked the clerk this, so I knew when we made this resolution that there were charges that were associated. We didn’t know the exact amount. We knew there was a bill to the Town and so the intent was to find out what that bill was and then to see, if ever, people had made someone repay those, and they have. So, to Coun. Bothwell’s query, are we creating new precedent, no. Repayment is a thing that has been stipulated before. With regards to the recommendations from the Integrity Commissioner, he said that there was no consequence and that was based on his review of the facts. He looked at what he had but he didn’t ask if there was any financial cost to this and if he had asked that, the clerk could have given it to him. See INTEGRITY, Page 4
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INTEGRITY
From Page 3 I mean I knew there was a cost before he even did his investigation, so he didn’t ask that so for him to say that there’s no consequence...you can say things...you can’t say things that you don’t know. If he doesn’t ask the question, then he can’t make a finding. It’s like if you hire an engineer to come into your basement and say tell me about the structural foundation. He’ll come in and say, see the drywall up and say, ‘It looks fine’. And then if the basement has a crack in it he say, he couldn’t see it, it was behind drywall and he can...I’m off track, but I am...the Integrity Commissioner did not know about this charge at the time of his finding and now we do know of it.
Note: Harnick’s finding was that no penalty of any kind be levied as he found the matter so trivial he did not even suggest an apology let alone a significant financial penalty. Vardy - Perhaps the CAO could tell us the date, he could retrieve the bill and tell us the date and what service was provided for. And secondly, I would ask that Coun. Vaine apologize to the mayor for having inferred that you acted unprofessionally. I think that was inappropriate and I’d like an apology please. Vaine – Point of Order, that is not yours to call and second of all I said to the mayor exactly what I felt. I do believe that what he did was unprofessional. So, I think there are a lot of things that some of us do that are unprofessional that will be called out in due time. If the mayor disagrees with what I said he has every right to file a complaint against me as well. I am quite fine with that. I stand behind what I said and so do a number of people in the public who have commented on this to me many times and I am getting tired of the public telling me the mayor is trying to get me. So that’s why I said it and I’ll back it up. You can smile all you want it means nothing to me. Ritchie - In regards to Coun. Bothwell’s questions, do we have the right to do this? Of course we have the right. The IC makes recommendations, councils make decisions on what should happen. It’s not precedent setting. This happens throughout all of Ontario, so there. The only question I have that I ask when we have this motion forward is how do you ensure pay and there’s a few ways that Coun. Sharpe spoke before, if that’s where we end up go-
ing, but, again, my understanding is that we never would have been billed from this individual had the mayor not contacted this individual from the first place and anything that he chose to do was not authorized by council. So whether this individual talked about the potential of some kind of security breach, whatever he talked about, the issue is that we as a council never authorized that so the question that I have is that, if I pick up the phone and talk to someone tomorrow, and they tell me they are going to bill me for it, and I say ‘send it to the Town’, is that ok? I don’t think it is. I mean, you know we just have to look and, ya the rest of the cost is the cost of doing business and I understand that, but any cost that is there that an individual has the right to charge the Town is not accurate... or is not right. Bothwell - Just again to reconfirm, we need to see how the $1,300 was arrived at, how much of it was the time that the CAO has said was maybe perhaps related to the email he received and his conversation with the individual or any other staff or perhaps the Integrity Commissioner. So I think it is premature to expect the mayor to reimburse the Town for something that we do not have a detailed breakdown on, how much time was allotted to whatever the costs are. So, I think that is important to see. In the broad picture of things, yes, this is a small amount, but we’re looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars we’re spending on these Integrity Commissioner complaints and the amount of time we’re spending on them...It’s like, I just don’t know why we’re going to such lengths to be to this extreme and if we are, then we’ve got to get it right, so let’s get the details, let’s find out exactly how the breakdown is. I’m not prepared to vote on anything that I don’t have all the details in front of me. Freake - I concur with Coun. Bothwell. We need the CAO to go back to this individual. Maybe he does not have that information in front of him now, nor does he it in the office but I think he should go back to this individual and ask him to give him a breakdown of what that $1,302.62 is for and I think we’ll have enough information to go forward. Until we get that, I don’t think we can. I’d like to direct the CAO to go back to this the individual and get a really good breakdown of what this is all about. Jordan – Coun. Dunstall, you have not spoken yet. Dunstall – Thank you, your worship, I just want to call the question. Sharpe – If you would afford me just a moment. I just want to, for the
record, Coun. Bothwell said hundreds of thousands of dollars, spent on these Integrity Commissioner complaints – the first six complaints, we spent about $22,000. This complaint was about $8,000. There’s a couple of active complaints from members of the public against, um, I don’t know exactly who, but they been, so, um, the integrity complaints, it’s maybe $30,000. It’s not hundreds of thousands, so Coun. Bothwell, please don’t say those things. It’s in the neighbourhood of $30,000, maybe $40,000 once all the, any of the other complaints are complete. Hundreds of thousands is a major exaggeration. Bothwell - Thank you for clarifying, Coun. Sharpe. Jordan – So the question has been called. I just want to make a couple of comments. When I recited my oath on Dec. 3, 2018, I promised to do my fiducuiary duty and to always act in good faith towards the Town of Grimsby and I have always acted in the best interests of the Town and I will continue to do so. And I will leave it at that. Moved by Coun. Sharpe, Seconded by Coun. Ritchie Resolved that Report CAO 21-06 dated Feb. 21 be received and that since the mayor’s correspondence with this individual is deemed to be a breach of the code of conduct and that Mayor Jordan be required to pay the $1,302.62 that this individual charged to the Town for this correspondence and that Report IC-11671020 be forwarded to those individuals pertaining to the directions given by council via various resolutions from the closed session of July 13, 2020. Ritchie – Just a point of clarity, Mr. mayor, if I could..I don’t know if we can actually force you to pay, unless you want to, if this is passed tonight, or if we would have to do a suspension of pay. I don’t know, but if we can have both of those words in there, because I know if we have the ability to force anyone to pay a particular bill. Sharpe - There’s probably a tax savings just to deduct it from the pay, too. But, the accounting aside, I am sure that the treasurer or admin department can do that as long as it is included in the motion I am ok with it. Those opposed to the Motion: Bothwell, Freake, Vardy. This in favour: Dunstall, Kadwell, Ritchie, Sharpe, Vaine. Jordan Abstained, Motion approved 5-3.
Vardy - Point of Inquiry – can I put a resolution on the floor? Sharpe – No Vardy – I am not talking to Coun. Sharpe, I am asking the mayor a question. Jordan – What’s the resolution? Vardy – I would still like the details of the $1,300. Despite what motion we just passed, I would still like a breakdown of that $1,300 bill, so I’d like to put forward a resolution that council be given a breakdown of that bill. Jordan – The clerk says that’s ok... she’s preparing it right now. Sharpe - I’m ok with having a breakdown of this. I think it’s spending extra time to do a recorded vote, I would just do a vote of hands. I’m ok with it. Ritchie – If I may, also I would like to suggest to Coun. Vardy that she also includes that the breakdown is made public and that we hold off to any withdrawal or payments from yourself until we see the breakdown. The bill is not paid until we receive the breakdown. Vardy – Through you, Mr. Mayor and the clerk, would that not just contradict the motion that the councillors just passed? Sharpe - Ya. Ritchie – No, it’s just the holding off so we have the right for reconsideration. Vardy – Why wouldn’t we just wait for the information? Then vote. Ritchie – I feel very confident I already know what the bill’s about. Vardy – Well, let me ask you directly, through you Mr. Mayor, has the CAO shared that bill breakdown with you? Ritchie – Has not. Vardy – So, if I may ask, how would Coun. Ritchie have this information? Could it be more anonymous material being provided to his home? Ritchie – this could have been how Coun. Sharpe said earlier, that a staff had stated that we received a bill for this. Vardy – Could have been, but was it? I am asking for how you actually know? Because you say you know. Jordan – I think this discussion is getting far off topic, so I think we should end it there. Note: Clerk Sarah Kim asked if Vardy was ok with Ritchie’s amendment. Before Vardy could answer, Sharpe interjected. Sharpe - To the clerk, I think that amendment interferes with the motion I just made. Freake – I think that breakdown should come from the individual and not from the CAO. The CAO can See VOTE, Page 5
News Now • Thursday, February 25, 2021 • Page 5
Motion: Moved by Coun. Vardy, Coun. Freake, Resolved that CAO be directed to provide a breakdown of costs of $1,302.62 in regard to charges made by the individual. Recorded Vote: all were in favour.
Snow party!
This group of snowmen appeared in front of the Peach King Centre last Friday, decked out in everything from hockey gear to barbells. The goodnews is that snowpeople appear to be exempt from social gathering restrictions. Marks - Photo
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From Page 5 contact the individual and the individual can submit the breakdown. CAO Schlange – We can retrieve the invoice and provide that to the council. Sharpe - We’ve already passed the resolution and in my resolution it says that the mayor should repay that amount and that the IC complaint be considered closed. So if we’re going to delay this, the resolution that we just passed, it kind of nullifies what we passed. Coun Vardy said it earlier, we’ve already passed a resolution. This resolution (if amended) contradicts what we already passed. We can’t say two things. Vardy – No, through you Mr. Mayor, if I may, my resolution, independent of what was passed, says I’d like to see the breakdown of the bill. I would like that to come forward. Sharpe – Ya, I’m ok with that. I’m just about the amendment.
IN THE
VOTE
Vardy – This is about transparency. Sharpe – I’m ok with the breakdown. I just mean the amendment to delay it is, I don’t think that’s allowed. I’m ok to have the breakdown.
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Page 6 • News Now • Thursday, February 25, 2021
Lincoln firefighters brave icy lake for rescue training
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By Tristan Marks NewsNow Members of the Lincoln Fire Rescue (LFR) took to the icy shores of Lake Ontario last week for several days of cold water rescue training. From Thursday to Saturday, the firefighters sharpened their critical rescue skills in practice scenarios both from the shore and IS YOUR SMILE on the“water. This seasonal training is key, even for the most experienced rescuer, said LFR trainer Don Sherren, who has 25 years of experience as an instructor under his belt. “These skills are perishable so you have to constantly keep them sharp,” Sherren said. “In a rescue situation on the ice, you have to act fast. Hypothermia can set in in a matter of seconds.” On the lake, rescuers work ing teams of seven: two primary rescuers, two back-ups, two “shore-tenders” who provide support
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without entering the water at any point and a team commander who oversees the whole operation. The team size is no arbitrary number. As Sherren explained, rescue team roles are that way so that “redundancies are built right into the system.” “Most rescues occur with one or two firefighters in the water,” Sherren said. “We always have an extra firefighter for each rescuer incase something goes wrong with the first rescuer. We have team members who can pull a rescuer out while others can continue rescuing the original victim.” Dressed up in full thermo-insulated suits, the trainees make use of two key pieces of equipment: the Fortuna, an inflatable raft that remains tethered
to the shore; and a MARSAR ring, a floating ring that can be thrown out to victims closer enough to the shoreline. The ‘victim’ in need of rescue during this training was a mannikin, who weighs “95 pounds of dead weight”. Sherren said this challenge is intention for the purposes of training. “It (the mannikin) actually helps the training because the firefighter has to do all the work,” he said. “A living person instinctively tries to help the firefighter as they are pulled out of the water.” He said that victims are not always conscious or mobile during a real rescue. In addition to winter training, LFR also conducts open water training
in the summer. Firefighters must first pass a swim test undertaken at one of Lincoln’s public pools. After demonstrating basic swimming capabilities, they undergo 8-12 hours of theory training, learning about team role duties, how to operate rescue equipment and so on. Deputy fire chief Bill Blake said LFR firefighters perform about 5-10 water rescues per year. All inland water-based rescues are coordinated between the host district and the water/ice water rescue teams from either Vineland or Jordan stations. For rescues in large, open bodies of water such as Lake Ontario and the Jordan Harbour firefighters will work in conjunction with GAMRU, NRP, and the Coast Guard.
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The Carolinian forest is our treasure We are very fortunate in Grimsby. We are on the doorstep of the Niagara Escarpment whic,h in 1990, was declared to be a World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations. Also, we are part of a very special environment known as the Carolinian Forest, or more colloquially “the banana belt”. In other words, we are blessed with a multitude of environmental riches. The Carolinian Forest stretches hypothetically from Grand Bend to Toronto. It is the northern edge of the deciduous forest (leaf shedding trees) named for the Carolinas. One of the reasons it is so special is that it has a perfect growing climate with average annual temperatures that are higher than those to the north. This banana belt climate allows many diverse species of plants, animals and birds to
A Small Drop of Ink By Dorothy Turcotte thrive here. That’s why it is a place treasured by bird watchers. Even in our own gardens formerly on Bedford Park, we saw unusual birds such as the mockingbird, the northern shrike, cedar waxwing, eastern bluebird, Baltimore oriole, white crowned sparrow. Bruce Trail hikers on the escarpment may not realize it, but around Grimsby they are walking past more than 70 species of trees and shrubs. Some of the rare ones are the cucumber tree, the tulip tree, black maple, pawpaw and sassafras. There’s also a multitude of fauna, including scarce critters like the southern flying squirrel, the spiny softshell turtle and the
eastern hognose snake. In spite of all of this, our Carolinian forest is always under threat from developers and government projects such as new highways. Therefore it is good to know that last week Grimsby Town Council had a discussion about the Carolinian forest. It’s comforting that there are people in town who care about it and want to see it preserved for passive purposes. Because we see them every day but don’t look at them, we tend to take our escarpment and our local canopy of trees for granted. We shouldn’t. Correction from last week’s column: Last week I wrote that the LPATS were created by the present Progressive Conservative provincial government. It was actually introduced by the previous Liberal provincial government.
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Page 8 • News Now • Thursday, February 25, 2021
Ward 3 Virtual Town Hall Councillor Paul MacPherson & Councillor Mike Mikolic
MAR
9
7 - 8:30 p.m. To register, visit lincoln.ca/Ward3TownHall
Please join our Virtual Town Hall on Tuesday, March 9 for an open agenda meeting on issues in Ward 3 and Town wide. We hope that you keep your video function on so that we can all see each other and engage in a meaningful conversation – almost as if we were face-to-face!
Possible items for discussion are: • Park updates • 2021 Infrastructure and development projects update in Ward 3
If you are unable to join this meeting, contact us at: Councillor Paul MacPherson 905-563-2799 ext. 305 pmacpherson@lincoln.ca
CTV’s new show Holmes Family Effect featuring FORT will finally air this Sunday, March 7. Popular TV personality MIke Holmes, his daughter Sherry and son Michael, were all in Smithville last summer to tape the episode. COVID-19 caused a series of delays in getting the program on the air, but the time has arrived. “We are so excited to share this transformation with the world,” said FORT Executive Director Beth Shaw. “Mike Holmes and his family have
done such an incredible job turning our old, rundown building into a place Smithville’s youth can be proud of,” said Beth Shaw, FORT’s executive director. Shaw said FORT is continuing to offer youth services during the pandemic. “Currently we are doing online programs with youth daily with a focus on homework help and mental health. We hope to reopen with limited numbers and safety procedures in place as Niagara returns to the red zone,” she said.
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Looking for news from Town Hall? Do you have questions about your community? Ward 3 Councillors Paul MacPherson and Mike Mikolic would love to hear about what matters most to you in the Town of Lincoln.
• 2021 Budget discussion • Road safety initiatives such as traffic calming
FORT featured on March 7 reno show
Councillor Mike Mikolic 905-563-2799 ext. 310 mmikolic@lincoln.ca
The Town has launched a new engagement platform, SpeakUpLincoln.ca. Here, we will share information and welcome your feedback on corporate initiatives that have an impact on our community. We want to hear from you! This digital platform allows you to share your thoughts at a time and place that are convenient for you. Please take a look and see what’s happening in Lincoln!
FIRST INSTALLMENT DUE MARCH 5, 2021 The 2021 Interim tax bills have been mailed to interested parties as shown on the Assessment Roll. Please contact the tax office at 905-945-9634 if you have not received your tax bill. Failure to receive a bill does not excuse the payment of taxes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently not accepting tax payments at Town Hall, however tax payments can be deposited in the Town Mail slot at the front entrance of Town Hall. Cheque payments only. Payments can be made at most financial institutions or by telephone and internet banking. Installments can also be paid by postdated cheques provided the taxes are paid by the regular due dates. No credit card payments are accepted at Town Hall. Please visit our website at www.grimsby.ca for further details on credit card payments. Please ensure that your payment reaches us on or before the due date. The taxpayer is responsible for the late arrival of payment. Penalties of 1¼% are added on the first day of default and on the first day of each month following. Penalties cannot be waived. S. Gruninger, CPA, CGA Director of Corporate Services/Town Treasurer
News Now • Thursday, February 25, 2021 • Page 9
Winter WineFest goes virtual for 2021 Fans of Jordan’s Winter WineFest will still be able to enjoy the annual festival, except this year they’ll be able to do it from the comfort of home. Winter WineFest @ Home will be hosted online at winterwinefest.ca, where visitors can access a number of interactive activities, downloadable materials, event videos and much more. Lincoln tourism coordinator Britnie Bazylewski said that, although the Town cannot hold any inperson events due to COVID concerns, planners worked hard to “distill” the popular festival into an “online street festival”. “We took everything people people loved about our WineFest
and turned it into an interactive online experience,” Bazylewski said. “Anyone who can access the internet, whether on a phone, tablet, desktop or whatever, can access Winter WineFest.” She also added that all of the activities and content are completely free to view. Some of the fest converted for an online experience include: • Food and wine pairing suggestions with recipes from Corrine Maund of 13th Street Winery; • A winter fashion trends report from Jacquelene Del Col of Tintern Road and Jack Style collective; • A winter cocktail workshop from the folks at Dillon’s
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Distillery; • An online buying guide for local icewine, beer, spirits and other libations; and •A family zone with interactive activities for the whole family, such as downloadable instructions for building ‘the ultimate snow fort’. “We even recreated the barrel roll,” Bazylewski said. A team of videographers went to each of the participant wineries and set comparable barrel roll courses for the participating winemakers. The barrel roll champion, along with a “championship highlight reel” will be revealed later on the website. Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton said this event is an opportuni-
ty for residents to have fun while supporting local businesses. “Many of us are looking for something to celebrate and enjoy, and this event is an excellent way to bring some fun and excitement to this winter,” said Easton. “I encourage Lincoln residents to support our local businesses who have worked very hard to pivot to a virtual event this year.” Bazylewski thanked the ongoing support of Lincoln’s residents for their business community, as well as the innovation/digitization funding from the Federal and Provincial governments. “Without any of them, these programs would not be possible, she said.
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Page 10 • News Now • Thursday, February 25, 2021
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The need for home office spaces has increased as more people work from home. Individuals can follow these guidelines to create effective, organized home offices. Begin with the desk The desk is the primary spot where work will take place. Have cups for holding pens and pencils, baskets and bins for larger items, and store other things elsewhere so it does not lead to clutter on the desk. Create a printing station Designate a space to serve as the central printing hub. This way children who need to print assignments for school will know where to go as well.
Printer supplies like extra ink cartridges and printer paper can be kept in storage boxes nearby. Add more shelving Shelving can help keep items organized and off the desk in home offices without closets or drawers. Look for shelves that blend in with decor but are sturdy enough to be functional. Organize paperwork Figure out a personal system that helps tidy up saved papers. While some papers can be scanned and stored as digital files, color-coded file folders can organize statements and other important documents. This makes it easy to find the right folder
when looking for certain documents. Establish a charging station Repurpose certain items, such as a desk organizer, into an easily accessible electronics charging station where phones and tablets can charge at one time. Make essential binders Make binders that can store the most important papers for easy access - even in an emergency. Set up a binder for automotive paperwork, including repair receipts, a medical binder for key medical records, a binder for device manuals, and one to store financial planning documents.
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News Now • Thursday, February 25, 2021 • Page 11
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Exterior lighting can add ambiance to any home The value of the right lighting in a home is undeniable. Lighting can instantly transform a room and create the ambiance homeowners are looking to establish. Though it might be mostly seen as a way to create mood inside a home, lighting also can do much for lawns and gardens. Backyards have come a long way over the last several decades. Once reserved as play areas for children and stomping grounds for the family dog, backyards have become oases for homeowners and their families. Outdoor living areas are wildly popu-
lar, and no such area is complete without exterior lighting. When installing exterior lighting around their landscapes, homeowners can keep various tips in mind to create a relaxing, awe-inspiring mood on their properties at night. • Consider uplights. Uplights are installed in the ground and direct light up at a tree, focusing on its trunk or canopy. This creates a dramatic effect that makes it possible to enjoy majestic trees at night just like you might when spending time in the yard during the day. • Focus on trees.
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Page 12 • News Now • Thursday, February 25, 2021 obituarIES
birthday
METCALFE, Earle Ralph
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289-235-9500 obituarIES
BRACHER, Ronald (Ron) Charles
March 21, 1937 – February 17, 2021 Our father, husband, uncle and brother was born in 1937 in Cobalt, Ontario, a small silver mining town. The family eventually settled in Kirkland Lake, where Ron, Harry, Doug, Joyce and Ruth shared a small two-bedroom home with their parents Reginald and Evelyn. Ron was very athletic and involved in m a n y different sports, his favorites being baseball and hockey. His passion for sports provided him the opportunity to meet his future bride, Caryl Ann Gauthier. They have been together ever since. Ron started his career at Kerr-Addison Mines before winning the position of Clerk Coordinator for Virginiatown. With the addition of Trevor and Cheryl and seeking new career opportunities, Ron moved his family to Grimsby where he assumed the role of Town Administrator, a role he held for 27 years. He and Caryl Ann joined Twenty Valley Golf & Country Club and while not every round was his favorite, he enjoyed the challenge and the comradery. When they weren’t golfing they were keeping active at the Grimsby Curling Club. In retirement, he and Caryl Ann continued to enjoy golfing, exploring new lands and spending the cold winter months in Florida. Ron leaves behind a legacy of accomplishments both professional and personal. He was a coach, a friend, a guidance counselor and a shoulder to lean on when you needed that extra support or clarity of thought. He will be dearly missed. The family would like to thank Dr. Peter Samuels for his support. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to McNally House Hospice. Since 2008, McNally House Hospice is a residential setting that provides 24 hour specialized palliative care, free of charge, to people living with a life-limiting illness, as well as those in their life circle. Donations can be made at www. mcnallyhousehospice.com. Arrangements entrusted to STONEHOUSE-WHITCOMB FUNERAL HOME, GRIMSBY, 905-945-2755. www.smithsfh.com.
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Passed away at Kilean Lodge, on Sunday, February 21, 2021, in his 92nd year. Beloved husband of Margaret (nee Guthmann) for over 68 years. Loved father of Douglas Metcalfe (Marie) and the late Bruce Metcalfe (2020). Cherished grandfather of Stephanie Metcalfe (Jeff Fraser) and Gregory Metcalfe and great-grandfather of Tycho Fraser. Dear brother of Mary Jane Lupish (Dwight), the late Harold Metcalfe (Lillian) and the late Robert Metcalfe (Dale). Predeceased by his parents Pearl and Ralph. Earle was born on November 4, 1929 in Grimsby. After graduating from Teacher’s College, Earle started his teaching career in 1951 at a oneroom school house in Tintern. He earned his BA at McMaster University during the 1960s and went on to be Principal at Glover Road, RL Hyslop, Bellmoore and Parkwood Schools in the Wentworth County School Board. Following his retirement in 1985, he and Margaret enjoyed traveling and he continued to golf and curl into his early 80s. We wish to thank the kind and compassionate staff at Kilean Lodge in Grimsby for the excellent care provided to Earle over the past three years. Cremation has taken place. A Memorial Gathering will take place in the future with interment at Queen’s Lawn Cemetery. If desired, memorial contributions to Alzheimer Society or West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation would be sincerely appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to STONEHOUSE-WHITCOMB FUNERAL HOME, GRIMSBY, 905-945-2755. www.smithsfh.com
Donna Atkinson February 27, 1941
Happy 80th Birthday! Love,Your Children Celeste, Chris and Michelle card of thanks
Thank you!
I would like to thank my wonderful family, relatives, friends and Trinity friends and neighbours for the beautiful cards, flowers, gifts and messages and phone calls I received on my 90th birthday. I loved them all. You made my day very special. Sincerely, Betty Duffield
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PERSONALS HOLY SPIRIT, you who solve all problems, light all roads so that I can attain my goal. You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget all evil against me and that in all instances of my life you are with me. I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things as you confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you ever, and in spite of all material illusion, I wish to be with you in eternal glory. Thank you for your mercy toward me and mine. The person must say this prayer three consecutive days. After three days the favour requested will be granted, even if it may be difficult. This prayer must be published after your favour is granted, without mentioning the favour. A special thanks to St. Rita, St. Jude, Sacred Heart, Blessed Virgin Mary and all the angels and saints. Especially to Saint Rita of Cascia. Only your initials shall appear at the bottom. C.E.
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Lincoln resident saved by fast-acting operations staffer
STEVEN SHORTHOUSE thing was seriously wrong.” Shorthouse quickly made his way over to the man and turned him over. This woke the man up. Shorthouse then asked permission to help carry the man to his nearby porch. By then, neighbours began to gather and also try to help where they could. Shorthouse directed the resident’s wife to call an ambulance so
he could get further help. Once Shorthouse was sure that neighbours would wait with the man for the ambulance to arrive, he got back into his snow plow and left to finish the route. “By the time I was able to come back, the ambulance was there,” Shorthouse said. According to Lincoln CAO Mike Kirkopoulos, the Beamsville resident remained conscious and was taken to the WLMH for further care. Kirkopoulos lauded Shorthouse’s actions. “We’re so thankful and proud to have
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staff like Steve on the Lincoln team who are doing their best to not just keep our roads clear from snow, but also look out for our community members,” said Kirkopoulos. For his part, Steve Shorthouse remained modest. “It happened so fast, it was the heat of the moment,” Shorthouse later said. “I just hope the gentleman is ok and I’m happy I was able to assist him.” “I believe everything happens for a reason, and that I was on that route that morning so I could help in the way I did.”
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By Tristan Marks NewsNow Lincoln operations staffer Steven Shorthouse did not expect to save a man’s life as he went to work plowing snowy Beamsville roads on Monday. As Shorthouse turned onto Frances Cres. in Beamsville, he spotted something that looked very wrong: an active, unmanned snowblower sitting in the middle of a driveway and behind it, a figure face-down in the snow. “At first I wasn’t too sure if it was a kid or someone messing around,” Shorthouse said. He stopped his snow plow and called out to the man in the drive way. “When I didn’t get an answer, I knew some-
News Now • Thursday, February 25, 2021 • Page 13
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Page 14 • News Now • Thursday, February 25, 2021
100% Niagara owned & operated Our Team: Publisher - Mike Williscraft mike@wn3.ca 289-442-4244 General Manager - Catherine Bratton Reporter - Tristan Marks Sales Consultant - Erica Huisman, Rose Bayer Graphics - Donna Wisnoski NewsNow is owned & operated by 1602207 Ontario Ltd. Office Locations Grimsby Office Beamsville Office 1 Mountain Street, P.O Box 614 Grimsby, ON, L3M 3J6 Beamsville, ON, L0R 1B0 Ph: 289-235-9500 Ph: 289-235-7848 NewsNow is published EVERY Thursday delivered to homes in West Niagara & Winona, 26,529.
Town of Grimsby needs to shuffle the deck, again Tuesday night of this week was Grimsby’s first - and really its only public session - for input into the 2021 budget process. Few residents would know that, because the was no proper public notice. A call was made to NewsNow’s office last week to inquire about a public notice ad for the virtual budget discussion. The only problem was that inquiry was 48 hours after the paper’s deadline and the paper was printed and going out to homes when the call came in. Yes, it was a holiday Monday, but for a public budget meeting - when council and Town Hall has had nothing but communications challenges on virtually all fronts, to blow this public notice simply gets added to the long list of inexcusable items which has taken place. The budget process is huge, especially when you look back on the last two years of major tax increases - which led to a combined surplus of $1.4 million over those two years it should be noted. That is important as repeated calls for fiscal restraint from councillors Reg Freake and Lianne Vardy, in particular, fell on deaf ears last year as five members of council very much controlled whatever they wanted to put through. The Town shifting to the committee of the whole administrative model has been a disaster in many ways all on its own. The new budget process in that system has precious little opportunity for elected officials or the general public to toss in their cents, unlike the previous sub-committee system which had each department work through their own budgets separately, in the public eye, and with thorough debate. Sadly, part of the debate when COTW was approved in January 2020 was reducing the hours elected officials spend in meetings. Somehow, this group thought it ok to give themselves a raise but cut the number of hours they invest in the community by half, or close to it. How many taxpayers can stick it out to take in 9.5 hours of a council meeting? How many councillors can make a proper decision after sitting there until nearly 2 a.m.? For the good of the Town, bring back the old system. M.W.
Et tu, Harnick? Not! Vindictiveness. Hate. Childishness. Spite. Stubbornness. Bullying. Manipulation. Ridiculousness. When one asks, what would possess the publisher to give up four full pages of space to one silly council story, look no further than this brief list of characteristics which were portrayed for the world to see. Feb. 16’s Grimsby council meeting was captured on video to be archived so future generations can have a snapshot image of how not to conduct yourself as an elected official. This meeting was like a season-ended of one of those ridiculous reality TV shows. We have The Real Councillors of Grimsby. A brief list of characteristics is listed at the head of this piece. It could have been much longer - after all, there were 9.5 hours of one council evening to consider. For our purposes, let’s just consider Act 2...with Act 1 being the near-90-minute closed session which kicked off the proceedings. There wasn’t a single shock in the whole “debate” regarding just how the Grimsby 5 would put the screws to Mayor Jeff Jordan. There was a bit of a dance, some justification, and then....dundun-dun...the hammer! It was so entertaining, Coun. Dave Sharpe sat back and grinned like the Cheshire Cat while Coun. Randy Vaine was going off and shouting threats at the mayor. It was all quite the display. If there is a shock, if you can call it that, it would be the audacity of the Grimsby 5 which continues to astound. One really has to wonder what motivates this cast of characters. At different times they have attempt-
MIKE WILLISCRAFT ed to hide behind cloaks coated in accountability and transparency. As Hans Christian Andersen might say, “These emperors have not clothes”. But back to the “shock” part. Here is what nobody should be shocked by. If you watched the 9.5-hour extravaganza to the bitter end... and I mean bitter...(and you’ll get to skip over the lengthy closed session portions, you will catch the snippit at the very end where council votes - 5-4 - to have the clerk speak to ADR Chambers, the organization which employs Integrity Commissioner Charles Harnick. The firm is described online as “Canada’s most experienced retired judges & lawyers for arbitration, mediation, and dispute resolution services throughout Canada.” Dare I say, one might even call them “experts”. Harnick has been in the sights of Kevin Ritchie since the councillor was busted by the IC for conduct against Coun. Reg Freake deemed, “premeditated action…designed to malign and insult”. When Mr. Harnick returned his findings on the complaint that Mayor Jordan had breached the code of conduct by making a phone call to the person on the other end of confidential emails which found themselves in
the lap of Ritchie, BUT found the matter so trivial he did even prescribe an apology for said action, Ritchie tried repeatedly to talk around Harnick during his presentation. When that failed, the Grimsby 5 went for Plan B. Plan B was getting staff to research all penalties across the province for breaching closed session confidentiality. Harnick would have none of that idea either and provided the expert (are you listening Mr. Vaine) advice that one could not take a finding in another wholly different set of circumstances and apply it to a set of facts in another case. BUT, when you have full control of council as the Grimsby 5 do, you can selectively use “expert advice” as a shield, when you choose, or just flat out ignore it - as they did here. So, The Five opted to inflict a punitive financial penalty on the mayor - when he was clearly acting in the best interests of the community for calling the person on the other end of the “hacked” emails. You had Sharpe actually giving out added detail from the closed session. You had more erroneous Points of Order than you can shake a stick at. And, it would seem, you have The 5 firing Charles Harnick as Integrity Commissioner because they didn’t like the reality to which he repeatedly tried to ground them. That’s right, they had a lawyer sit there until nearly 2 a.m. to give them advice on how to phrase dealing with Harnick in the minutes. The sad capper on a sad evening was only topped by Sharpe saying, just before the live stream was cut off, “Mayor Jordan, I am wondering if, before we close the meeting, we could all sing the song Closing Time.”
News Now • Thursday, February 25, 2021 • Page 15
Positive tone of coping article appreciated: reader Dear Editor, It was so good to read the article written by Flavio in this week’s paper regarding the Emotional Pandemic. We are continually inundated with negative numbers, rules and threats of punishment, fines and shaming. These fear tactics may help control the masses but the results have been devastating. The numbers of suicides, mental health problems like depression and anxiety attacks, drug overdoses and alcohol abuse have all skyrocketed. We agree with Fla-
vio that our Faith and Trust in God gives us peace in all difficult circumstances and we are thankful for that. God also gives us inquiring minds that we should use to study and search for information ourselves. As we researched and listened to many highly qualified doctors, scientists and other experts they all agree that the elderly and those with compromised health should be isolated and protected. The healthy and young however, should be living life as normal without masks. In this
way they will build up a natural immunity to COVID. After almost a year of isolation, separation, lockdowns and much fear is there any factual proof that this is working or helping in any way? Health experts are now stating that the vaccination may not prevent the spread. Perhaps it’s time to go with the other option: protect the vulnerable but allow everyone else to go back to work, open up businesses and churches, celebrate holidays with lots of family and friends, play sports,
plan and actually go on a vacation and maybe even hug someone. Albert and Sarah Groothedde Grimsby
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DSBN misses an opportunity Dear Editor, It is hard to believe the stories coming out of DSBN these days about the new high school site. It was also hard to believe anything they said back when they first started selling the idea of how a new high school - at the cost of three local high schools - would be a good thing for anyone other than board managers
who want to cut administrative costs. I get some of the carrots they waved in our faces could have appeared beneficial at the time, but if the high schools had been properly maintained and been renovated to prepare for the future they could have been great for all involved. What a missed opportunity. Dave German
The Hat Trick tradition continues Dear Editor, Nice to see that Hat Trick Hockey has made it back during these covid times. This year our entries are up to six - three from Hearst and three from Beamsville. All in family fun. The Rollers from Beamsville and
from Hearst the Grattons and me. Prizes are secondary but a couple of years ago my six-year-old grandson won it all. Hoping that we have a good start to the season that we have and ending without disruption to the pool. Thank you for this tradition. Alan Jansson
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Page 16 • News Now • Thursday, February 25, 2021
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