Reprimanded councillor disagrees with IC's findings and penalty

Oro-Medonte Township Coun. Richard Schell had little to say when he addressed the sanctions and penalties imposed on him last month by the township’s integrity commissioner.

At a special session of council Wednesday afternoon, Schell was brief.

“To the public and my colleagues. First of all, I would like to apologize to my colleagues for us ending up in this situation," said Schell.

“And secondly, I do accept the integrity commissioner’s report although I do disagree with the findings and I also disagree with the penalty that was imposed.”

The councillor, who was reprimanded and had his pay suspended for 60 days after Oro-Medonte Township’s integrity commissioner John Ewart found he had breached both the Municipal Code of Conduct and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, made no further comment.

Prior to making his statement, Schell listened to the views of residents Steven Wells and Lillian McConnell, both of whom urged Schell to resign.

Wells, appearing virtually, said Schell should resign because he has “violated the code of ethics of the township.”

McConnell said she has “lost trust in the councillor of Ward 5.”

In his written decision on Nov. 14, Ewart said the councillor breached the Municipal Code of Conduct by distributing a court document to five members of council on Aug. 29, 2023 in an attempt to "influence" council or members of council regarding short-term rentals.

Ewart's report also said the councillor contravened the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act after declaring a pecuniary conflict of interest.

The councillor, although not named in the report, was described as someone who “has recused himself due to a pecuniary conflict of interest on at least eight prior occasions from matters coming before council relating to short-term rental accommodations. The previous recusals were based on the fact that the member of council owns and periodically operates a bed and breakfast establishment," the decision says.

Oro-Medonte Mayor Randy Greenlaw and Deputy Mayor Peter Lavoie said they have never recused themselves from a discussion about short-term rentals, nor had Councillors Lori Hutcheson, John Bard, David Clark and Robert Young when the topic has come up.

Schell was expected to make a comment at the Nov. 22 council meeting, but said he had an appointment to keep right after council and wouldn’t be able to answer questions about Ewart's report.