Kincardine Coun. Dave Cuyler. (File image from Zoom video meeting earlier this year)
Kincardine Counctillor-at-large Dave Cuyler is going to lose 30-days pay for remarks he made at a council meeting last September.
Following the council meeting on Monday, Cuyler told Bayshore Broadcasting News, that technically he broke the rules and he “deserves to be punished.”
He was commenting on the Integrity Commissioner’s report that stated Cuyler was critical of the findings of the Pandemic Economic Recovery Group and its summer access survey.
Cuyler wasn’t buying the numbers presented and wondered about the truthfulness of some people suggesting he didn’t trust them.
The report was a follow-up to the summer of closing a section of Queen Street during the weekends to entice people to shop local during the pandemic.
The Complainants allege that, in speaking in such a negative way about the work of the Pandemic Economic Recovery Group, Councillor Cuyler has breached sections of the Code (of Conduct) dealing with general integrity, discrimination and harassment and conduct respecting staff.
The Integrity Commissioner called for a 90-day suspension of pay for Cuyler for the violation.
However council, in a recorded vote, based on a motion by Deputy Mayor Randy Roppel, approved a 30-day pay suspension, and Cuyler must make a public apology at the next council meeting, February 8th.
Roppel says if the public apology is not forthcoming then the pay suspension will be extended to 90-days, as suggested in the Integrity Commissioner’s report.
Cuyler has already indicated to Bayshore Broadcasting News, he is preparing the apology and will deliver on February 8th.
The entire Integrity Commissioner’s report is available here.