In my short – by comparison – career in journalism, I have seen my fair share of dysfunctional councils.
While working in Mount Forest, I was able to enjoy the hilarity and shenanigans of Southgate council from 2015 to 2018. For those that may not recall, their meetings were so poorly executed that the Dundalk Herald, another paper that covered Southgate, ended one of their stories in 2015 or 2016 (the exact year escapes me) with, and I paraphrase:
“After eight hours of meeting, council adjourned for the day. This publication decided we had enough and did not return for day two of the proceedings.”
I didn’t personally cover Southgate council – we had a correspondent attend those meetings – so I found it very entertaining to read council coverage.
I thought nothing would top that council for dysfunctionality… until last week, when I was introduced to Kincardine council.
Pauline Kerr, our ace reporter who also covers Kincardine council for the Kincardine Independent, called me for our usual Tuesday morning chat. For the past couple of years, this has involved a quick rundown of the previous night’s Kincardine council meeting.
More often than not, there is an entertaining story about how a conversation went off the rails or how a relatively tame item on the agenda led to a heated discussion.
Last Monday was another one of those items.
Previously, council had defeated a motion to continue the popular weekend promenade during the summer months. A motion was presented by Coun. Dave Cuyler at a later meeting proposing to bring the promenade back for Saturdays only, which was defeated for being too restrictive. On April 4, another motion was brought forward by Coun. Laura Haight, after consulting with the Kincardine BIA and Chamber of Commerce, for the promenade to be held on Sundays only.
At this point, as Pauline and Kincardine Independent reporter Tammy Schneider report in a special regional story for us this week, Cuyler asked why the motion was changed from his original motion. As Haight tried to explain her reasoning, Cuyler interrupted.
This went on for a bit, with Cuyler questioning why the promenade is necessary and referred to an informal survey he’d done indicating people didn’t want it. Haight questioned the source of his information.
At that point, a very audible and very obscene comment was made – we can’t print the exact language here – by Cuyler.
Mayor Gerry Glover, after conferring with the town clerk, asked Cuyler to apologize. He did not during the meeting, but has since issued an apology in the days following the meeting.
Rightfully so, Haight and other Kincardine residents are appalled and outraged by the comment. Some are calling for Cuyler to be removed from council, although it is nearly impossible for a municipality to do so – death, resignation or failing to be re-elected appear to be only ways to lose your seat.
The integrity commissioner is now conducting what Glover is calling an “expedited investigation” into the April 4 incident.
If this was the first time Cuyler had been accused to breaching the municipality’s code of conduct, it might be easier for people to forgive him for saying something in the heat of the moment.
But this isn’t the first time.
In September 2019, Cuyler was reprimanded for violating the municipality’s code of conduct by swearing at then-building inspector Dallas Hewitt.
Integrity Commissioner Harold Elston found Cuyler had been “unfittingly aggressive, offensive and abusive” during the incident.
A year later, in September 2020, Cuyler accused staff of lying in a report that involved the BIA and Chamber of Commerce. The integrity commissioner recommended Cuyler be reprimanded by council, and his pay was suspended for 30 days.
Had he not apologized, it would have been 90 days.
Seeing as how it’s baseball season, it only feels fitting to use a baseball analogy in this case: three strikes and you’re out.
His comments on April 4 are inexcusable and something that should never, ever be directed at another councillor, let alone any human being. The integrity commissioner needs to come down hard in this case, as it appears the first two investigations haven’t deterred from repeat behaviour.
However, as I stated earlier, there is very little that can be done to remove Cuyler from council.
Hopefully Kincardine voters remember this outburst in October when they go to the polls.
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Mike Wilson is the editor of Midwestern Newspapers. Comments and feedback are welcome at mwilson@midwesternnewspapers.com.
