Designated Truck Route by-law is coming back to Council on or before December 2nd, after a report says one Councillor broke the rules during a previous meeting on the issue.
Councillor Brian Hamilton originally voted in favour of the Designated Truck Route by-law, but the next time the issue came forward, he switched to opposing it.
Councillor Trevor Giertuga made a complaint ot the city’s Integrity Commissioner, claiming the flip was because the Chamber of Commerce told Council the Truck Route would hurt businesses.
Hamilton asked Chamber President Charla Robinson during a presentation to Council if the Truck Route would financially affect his Algoma Street restaurant, which the Commissioner’s report says shows he had a financial reason to oppose the by-law.
Legislation and the city’s Code of Conduct require Councillors to declare when they have a financial, monetary, or economic interest in a matter, and not participate in the decision-making process.
Hamilton indicates he doesn’t hold a grudge against Giertuga, but disagrees with the report.
“Even if the Designated Truck Route re-routed trucks in some strange fashion, I mean, to add 25 cents [for] delivery to my five things that I get from [food service company] Sysco at my business? It’s absurd,”
Hamilton adds he also feels the rules could be used harmfully.
“Procedurally, actually, it has language in this new ethics legislation that could really allow Councillors to silence votes.”
Councillor Giertuga says he’s satisfied with the outcome of the report.
“I’ve advised other Councillors when I’ve thought they might have a conflict of interest as well,” Giertuga explains. “I did talk to Councillor Hamilton that night and let him know, and he did what he thought was right.”
The report recommends Councillor Hamilton not vote on the truck route again, and that Council be trained on the rules about conflict of interest.
It says Hamilton claims he did not fully understand the regulations dealing with declaring a conflict.
The motion to delay, put forward by Northwood Councillor Shelby Ch’ng, indicates she would like more time to consider what the report means for her as the owner of a south-side store.
