« I didn’t do anything underhanded, » said Saucier, « and I think most people know that about me. »
Russell Township council received a report Tuesday from John Saywell, municipal integrity commissioner, on his investigation of allegations that Saucier was in conflict of interest during council’s past discussion and vote on a capital charges policy for unserviced neighbourhoods connecting to municipal water and sewer.
Saucier owns property in an unserviced part of the municipality. Saywell noted that she declared her personal interest every time the issue came up during council meetings and her belief that she was not in conflict of interest and would be able to argue and vote on the issue in a fair manner.
Saywell reviewed both Russell Township’s new Code of Conduct for council members and also the provincial Code of Conduct for municipalities. He concluded that Saucier is exempt from a conflict of interest charge because her personal interest is the same as other property owners in unserviced areas of the township and not motivated by financial gain.
« No sanction is either required or appropriate, » stated Saywell at the end of his report.
