Letter: Déjà Vu in City Hall: A Tale of Frustration and Resistance

To the editor.

The current situation involving the Integrity Commission and certain council members may feel familiar to some with a sense of déjà vu. The case draws parallels to the Sean Lawlor incident, where Sean, the son of former mayor Stan Lawlor, served as a council member and the city's budget chief.

In late December 2013, during a council meeting and budget discussions, Sean delivered a passionate speech expressing frustration over the lack of cooperation and support from staff and fellow council members, ultimately publicly resigning from both his position and council. It appears that Councillor Inch's recent actions may stem from a similar dissatisfaction with City Hall's operations.

See: Lawlor resigns 

Following Mr. Lawlor's resignation, there was a noticeable lack of follow-up by the mayor and council in addressing his allegations. His service and abrupt departure went unacknowledged by council and the incident faded into obscurity.

This week, we witnessed another council member recognizing issues within City Hall and attempting to instigate change. Regrettably, much like Mr. Lawlor's experience, Councillor Inch's efforts are encountering resistance from the establishment. The Integrity Commissioner's report has found that she exceeded the bounds of the Code of Conduct, resulting in a reprimand.

See: Unanimous penalty for city councillor due to harassment

It is crucial not to dismiss the frustrations expressed by Mr. Lawlor and Councillor Inch, regardless of the approach they've taken to deal with them. From my extensive experience, I can attest to the considerable issues which are affecting taxpayers pocketbooks and the effort required to obtain straightforward answers from City Hall. I can also attest to the lengths that council will go to when presented with facts they consider unflattering.

This coupled with the apparent lack of commitment from the majority of council members to advocate for the city's taxpayers is disheartening.

At present, it appears that an entrenched old boys' network holds sway over the city, with a group of council members either unwilling or unable to challenge this status quo.

In light of this, Councillor Inch should consider staying the course and continuing her fight for real change, all while being mindful of avoiding actions that could provide further grounds for reprimand.

Donald Rennick 

North Bay