Wawa's Integrity Commissioner has recommended Councillor Mitch Hatfield apologize and have her pay suspended for three months over a code of conduct violation.
A recent report from the Municipality's Integrity Commissioner says an investigator filed the complaint in July, claiming they became aware of the violation amid a different investigation - the complaint claimed Hatfield violated the Code of Conduct by releasing to a member of the public confidential information about an Integrity Commissioner investigation involving an anonymous complainant.
During that investigation, the Integrity Commissioner had informed Hatfield of the complainant's identity, though she was told not to reveal that or the investigation to anyone until it was made public - this new report concludes Hatfield "blatantly disregarded direction from the Integrity Commissioner to maintain confidence throughout the initial investigation process of the complainant who had requested anonymity", and finds her defence of her actions and lack of understanding of the rules "not believable or credible".
Council accepted the report last week, along with its recommendations that Hatfield's remuneration be suspended for 90 days, a written reprimand be read out at a regular Council meeting, and Hatfield verbally apologize during an open meeting, with her formal letter of apology to be posted on the Municipality's website, along with the reprimand and notification of suspension of her remuneration.
This comes just weeks after another Integrity Commissioner found Hatfield had violated the Council-Staff Relations Policy and Code of Conduct for Council, recommending she review the two policies, verbally apologize to Council for violating them, and write a letter of apology to the anonymous complainant "for treating [them] in a disrespectful manner".