CENTRE WELLINGTON – Centre Wellington’s integrity commissioner has ruled a councillor did not have a conflict of interest in relation to the replacement of a rural bridge.
Guy Giorno released a decision on Thursday over an inquiry started by councillor Bob Foster into whether councillor Steven VanLeeuwen should have declared a pecuniary interest during the debate over Bridge 4-WG on Fifth Line in a rural part of the township.
“The Applicant’s (Foster’s) position is that councillor VanLeeuwen stands to ‘benefit both financially and personally’ from the replacement of Bridge 4-WG since his home and businesses are in the immediate vicinity of the bridge,” Giorno wrote in his report.
In the decision, Giorno wrote Foster believes because VanLeeuwen operates business dealing with repair and renting of heavy machinery he stood to benefit from replacement because of a heavier weight restriction.
Giorno wrote that VanLeeuwen’s proximity to the bridge is accurate but any perceived benefit to his business is hypothetical and therefore he will not make an application to a judge for further review.
The integrity commissioner added the application was not frivolous and reminded council members to proceed with caution on decision-making regarding municipal infrastructure near their properties.
In a phone call before the decision was released, Foster said he would support the findings made by Giorno.
“This is exactly what transparency and accountability in municipal government is all about,” Foster said.
“The integrity commissioner by investigating will help ensure that we have good government in Centre Wellington.”
VanLeeuwen is the subject of another active integrity commissioner investigation looking into if his joining of an anti-lockdown group contravened the municipal code of conduct.
