Trail mayor Colleen Jones has been censured by her council and apologized for unspecified conduct against a city employee that took place before she was elected to her current position.
According to a news release from the City of Trail, council issued the formal rebuke Monday for behaviour “unbecoming of a member of city council.”
The city says a third-party investigator found Jones violated the code three times prior to last fall’s municipal election. Jones said the complaint was filed more than 15 months ago, which would have placed it around March 2022 while she was serving as a councillor.
The report found Jones’ conduct “showed a lack of consideration for an employee and … did not promote public confidence.” The specific actions and dates they occurred were not revealed and the employee was not named. Nor is it known if the employee still works for the city.
As a result, council resolved to issue a statement of censure and letter of reprimand while directing Jones to complete a course or training in governance.
While formal censure is among the harshest measures a council can take against one of its own, it comes with no specific consequences.
Jones issued a letter of apology that was circulated alongside the notice of censure. She wrote: “I have acknowledged my conduct and I am regretful for the harm that my actions have caused to council, staff, and the City of Trail. I have also apologized to council and the impacted individual.
“[W]e are focusing on strong and collaborative governance as a council and [I] apologize for my part in the governance challenges of last term. The dynamics around the table today are very different from those of last council.
“I am pleased to put this matter behind me. I commit to leading this council with integrity and excellent governance.”
Jones indicated the report on her conduct was received by the previous council, which left office in November. It was not immediately clear why the censure motion was passed this week, nor whether it was unanimous. The matter was not discussed publicly during council’s regular meeting or committee of the whole on Monday.
The statement from the city said council “took this matter seriously and given its commitment to transparency and accountability is notifying the public … Council assures the community that due process and procedural fairness was followed.”
The statement added Jones was given copies of all the materials council relied upon in deciding on the matter and an opportunity to respond to the allegations prior to the censure motion.
It said that due to “confidentiality and privacy legislation,” council members are unable to discuss the matter.
It is the third code-of-conduct investigation involving Trail council in recent years.
The first began following a confrontation in a public meeting in January 2021 between the late councillor Robert Cacchioni and then-city manager David Perehudoff and led to Perehduoff leaving his longtime role. Cacchioni was found to have breached the code.
Subsequently, Cacchioni, Jones, and then-councillors Carol Dobie and Eleanor Gattafoni Robinson filed complaints against then-mayor Lisa Pasin, accusing her of violating the violence in workplace policy and council code of conduct against them during a closed meeting in June 2021 called to discuss a media release about Perehudoff’s departure.
Cacchioni further filed a complaint against councillor Sandy Santori, alleging similar violations during closed meetings in October 2020 and June 2021.
In her report, the investigator dismissed some of the allegations outright and ruled the violence in workplace policy didn’t apply to interactions between council members. But she agreed Pasin violated the “respect” and “integrity” sections of the code of conduct and that Santori breached the “respect” section.
Pasin and Santori both apologized for their comments and actions but expressed frustration over the cost of the report, which came to nearly $50,000. Further dust-ups continued to plague council, including one over Jones’ appointment to the regional district board. Cacchioni successfully introduced a motion of non-confidence in Pasin.
Cacchioni and Santori did not run for re-election. Jones defeated Pasin in the race for mayor.
