Northern Bruce Peninsula Council Members From Left to Right: Councillor Golden, Deputy Mayor Myles, Mayor McIver, Councillor Myles and Councillor Mielhausen (Photo from Northern Bruce Peninsula website)
Northern Bruce Peninsula Coun. James Mielhausen will not be facing a formal reprimand in response to an Integrity Commissioner’s report that concluded he failed to disclose an indirect interest in a matter.
During a meeting on Dec. 13, council resumed discussion on the report it received on Nov. 22 — when a resolution to defer a decision was reached.
The Integrity Commissioner’s report deals with several council discussions between June and September 2021 about an application by the Blue Heron Company to amend the zoning by-law to rezone a portion of a property in Tobermory to permit the construction of a new parking lot.
During the process, the Integrity Commissioner concluded Mielhausen did not disclose a pecuniary interest in the matter. His daughter is employed at Blue Heron Company.
The report says the penalties for a member who contravenes the Code of Conduct include a reprimand or suspension of the member regarding their services sitting on council for 90 days.
The level of the infraction against Mielhausen, however, does not require heavier sanctions to be imposed against the councillor, according to the report.
Mayor Milt McIver says in making the decision to not reprimand Mielhausen, they are not challenging the recommendation of the integrity commissioner to reprimand him and respect the conclusion the commissioner came to.
“The conclusion was, it was an indirect pecuniary interest, meaning the daughter that worked for the company is certainly not an owner and is one of many employees,” says McIver.
McIver says after council looked at the proposal, they took into considerations with this case and no decisions have been made about the parking lot.
“As councillors we are all trying to do the right thing, and I think as well for all of us, we all learn from our mistakes,” says McIver. “And we expect in this case, Mr. Mielhausen, has learned from this experience.”