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Elliot Lake Council wants to move past Integrity issues

Consusltant will a give a detailed breakdown of all Integrity Commissioner complaints and investigations which the firm has undertaken for the city at a special council meeting on Sept. 12
ElliotLakeCityHall
File photo shows Elliot Lake City Hall in July, 2018. Kris Svela for ElliotLakeToday

Elliot Lake City Council received a report from Integrity Commissioner officials absolved Mayor Dan Marchisella of any wrong doing, but Councillor Chris Patrie who launched the complaint, advised he has voiced his concerns with his lawyer and awaits further developments.

Those developments took place last night during a highly emotional debate at the regular meeting of Elliot Lake City Council

E4M's (of Sault Ste. Marie) report for the Integrity Commissioner cleared the mayor of receiving any benefit from his support for Elliot Lake music promoter Corey McKenzie's failed plans to stage a heavy metal music concert at Elliot Lake's publicly owned Mount Dufour Ski Hill this year. In council debate, Marchisella took pains to offer an apology to McKenzie, head of AstroRabbit Entertainment.

"Mr. McKenzie did come to us in December, and council's subsequent deferral led to a loss of his contracts for the music show," said Marchisella.

It had been set to run earlier this month from Aug. 9-11.

"I wish to apologize to Mr. McKenzie. I am very, very sorry."

The Mayor said he has always tried to support community activities, especially fundraisers like McKenzie's Atomic MusicFest for which he had earmarked a portion of revenue to assist local Elliot Lake organizations. The mayor said he doubts McKenzie will try to stage such an event again in the city. He noted McKenzie organized a successful heavy metal show this summer in eastern Ontario, very similar to the one he had planned here.  

Earlier in the debate, Councillor Luc Cyr quoted from a dictionary definition of the word "integrity" and questioned Patrie as to why he has launched a series of complaints to the Integrity Commissioner which are costing Elliot Lake taxpayers money. 

Cyr noted, "That is not what the people elected us for." 

Cyr was also cleared by the Integrity Commissioner, represented by E4M, prior to its Marchisella investigation. That probe as well was initiated by Patrie. For his part, Patrie said there were several incorrect statements made about him in the latest report, hence his decision to seek legal counsel and say nothing further at this time. 

Councillor Tom Turner said the Integrity Commissioner rules would have at one time been covered under the topic of "good manners." He and Councillors Norman Mann and Ed Pearce all called for an end of the investigations. Turner noted council has many other things it needs to do.

"We need to treat each other well, and move on," said Turner.

Councillor Sandy Finamore took exception to comments that Pearce and Marchisella, made in jest. They alluded to finding a remedy through a discussion or a face-to-face encounter that could become more physical. She said suggestions of physical solutions for disagreements, even as a joke, can never be tolerated by city council.   

At a Special City Council meeting on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m., representatives from E4M will be on hand at Elliot Lake City Hall to give a detailed breakdown of all Integrity Commissioner complaints and investigations which the firm has undertaken for the city.



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About the Author: Brent Sleightholm

As a reporter, Brent has covered everything from amateur and professional sports, to politics, entertainment, police and courts, to human interest stories and government issues
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