Two P.A. councillors face sanctions over conflict allegation

A letter to council from a local resident in late October first raised the issue of Lennox-Zepp’s conflict.

“My understanding is that the law says that where there is a personal interest, a councillor has an obligation to remove herself from not only a vote but from the entire debate on the issue,” Mike Henry wrote.

“In particular, we have a City Councillor who I understand is married to the CUPE rep whose job it is to represent the members of the CUPE local now striking. People I know from the union have told me that he has been very directly and visibly involved in negotiations and union strategies concerning the collective agreement and job action.”

Lennox-Zepp was warned by Mayor Greg Dionne on December 11 that she would be facing an investigation after she refused to leave the council chamber for a vote on the deal between the city and CUPE 882.

At the time, Dionne told Lennox-Zepp she was in a conflict after a short private discussion with the city’s solicitor, Mitch Holash.

Dionne additionally said that he had consulted with a private out-of-province lawyer who also said that she was in conflict.

“I am intending on the basis of legal advice to stay on this file,” said Lennox-Zepp in response, as she refused to abstain from the vote. “When my spouse is an active member on the file, then I have been and continue to do so properly, recuse myself.”

She said her spouse was not actively involved in the negotiations at the time of the vote.

Lennox-Zepp practices criminal law for Legal Aid.

While council has multiple options according to the agenda item that will be considered on Monday, the Executive Committee (which is all of council) referred one decision to the regular meeting; to have legal counsel apply to King’s bench under section 121 (2)(b of the Cities Act to see if either or both Lennox-Zepp and Head were in a conflict for any issues involving the City and dealings between CUPE 882 or 160.

Council is not bound by its own recommendation and can change its mind on Monday.

Head says there was nothing untoward about the limited participating he had/

“All of these motions are normal business of the city. I vote on contracts all the time,” Head stated. “I gain nothing from it personally or professionally.”

“I don’t know why this has come up. The only motion of recent was a tentative agreement between the City and 882.”

Despite disagreeing with a legal opinion, Head still left the room for the vote because of public perception.

Head works for CUPE National but has no dealings with the two locals that represent Prince Albert workers.

As reps, they provide advice to the locals they are assigned to and he is assigned to different locals.

Mira Lewis is assigned to CUPE 882 and 160.

“She doesn’t know what’s happening in my assignment and I don’t know what’s happening in her assignment. Since being elected I have made it a point to distance myself from those city working groups,” he said.

paNOW reached out to Terra Lennox-Zepp but did not hear back prior to publication.

—

susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

by Susan McNeil

Two P.A. councillors face sanctions over conflict allegation

What's Trending