Thorold council did not accept recommendations against Councillor Jim Handley
A divided Thorold city council voting to reject the Integrity Commissioner's recommendations that Councillor Jim Handley lose 90 days pay over some social media posts.
Councillor Ken Sentence was one of three votes in favour, along with Mayor Terry Ugulini and Councillor Tim O'Hare. He stressed beforehand he has no ill will toward Councillor Handley.
"And I will do the same thing for any councillor in this room, including myself, I will not argue it. If you had your day in court, and you've talked to the Integrity Commissioner, and you've had your say, and he comes up with something, I will go it on anybody in this room," he says.
Councillor Carmen DeRose voted against, saying the recommendations are vindictive, and that Councillor Handley was bullied, while O'Hare said they hired the Integrity Commissioner to do a job.
Councillors Henry D'Angela and Anthony Longo wanted to abstain, but those would be recorded as no.
Councillor Mike DeVititiis said he's known Councillor Handley for 30 years. "I know we have a hard decision to make here, and I agree with both sides. Councillors should not be fighting with other councillors and all this hate. I just don't like this whole process, I don't know how we're going to work together in 4 years... maybe some people don't care how we work together in four years."
Councillor D'Angela said vindictiveness of people using the Integrity Commissioner process has impacted political careers.
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