Five Rideau Lakes councillors are being warned they could face personal legal action for what’s described as retaliatory, bad-faith penalties against Mayor Arie Hoogenboom and Councillors Marcia Maxwell and Ron Pollard.
A letter from Ottawa law firm Dentons claims Councillors Paula and Jeff Banks, Linda Carr, Sue Dunfield, and Debbie Hutchings imposed excessive, retaliatory penalties on them at an October sixth meeting.
Hoogenboom had his pay suspended for six months, while Maxwell had hers suspended for four months and Pollard’s 14 weeks following integrity commissioner reports.
Maxwell says the penalties were clearly a revenge tactic stemming from a council term of clashes.
The suggested penalties were a combined 10 day pay suspension for Hoogenboom across four investigations, 14 days for Maxwell and seven days for Pollard, with each councillor facing two investigations.
We asked Maxwell if they’ll pursue legal action beyond the letter.
Maxwell confirmed herself alongisde Hoogenboom and Pollard are paying for their attorney personally, and it’s not costing anything to the taxpayers.
The firm’s letter told the accused to rescind the penalties, remove reprimands and apologize – or risk being sued personally.
Story by Grant Deme