Annual Report From Robert Swayze
The Town of Essex has a contract with Robert Swayze to serve as our Integrity Commissioner. Each year he brings us an annual report. So far 2021 was the most costly to date. I hope come the new term of council we have less friction and more etiquette towards each other. I am optimistic we have a bright future.
Report on Monday’s Agenda from Mr. Swayze,
I am required by the Municipal Act in a periodic report to summarize information
without identifying the persons concerned.
The year 2021 was event filled for Council and active for the Integrity
Commissioner. The former Mayor was charged under the Municipal Elections Act
and resigned. I had two complaints regarding the election charge which were
dismissed in consultation with the Ontario Ombudsman. Council decided to
appoint his replacement and I had another complaint related to that procedure.
A member of Council commented publicly on the Covid Virus using the phrase
“Chinese Virus”, which caused an intense response from residents in Western
Ontario. I had two complaints on that subject.
Finally, I received three complaints for inappropriate public comments made by
two members of Council.
My docketed time for the year was 183.4 hours, which translates to $43,000.00 at
my hourly rate of $235, plus HST.
Further the Report from Mr. Swayze in 2021:
“I received approximately 80 complaints from residents of the Town and County of
Essex and some far beyond, in reaction to Tweets made by Councillor Chris
Vander Doelen while recovering from contracting the Corona Virus. Many of the
complaints were from the Asian Community. He referred to Covid 19 as the
“Chinese Flu”, the “China Origin Virus” and he called China “a murderous regime
that peddles falsehoods to obscure the origin of the Covid Pandemic.
I have served as Integrity Commissioner for multiple municipalities over the past
13 years and have never experienced an outpouring of such emotion over the
behaviour of a member of Council. In that time my voice mailbox has never been
filled until now.”
I asked Admin for yearly totals for the cost of our Integrity Commissioner:
| 2015 Total | 3,390.64 |
| 2016 Total | 24,365.93 |
| 2017 Total | 21,335.81 |
| 2018 Total | 9,744.54 |
| 2019 Total | 1,025.74 |
| 2020 Total | 11,665.76 |
| 2021 Total | 43,857.55 |
| 2022 Total | 5,021.86 |
