Support for Brantford's Councillor Carpenter

This fundraiser has been established as a community response to a consequential decision made by some members of Brantford's City Council, in a meeting held on Tuesday, December 17th, 2024. This decision is in relation to a Code of Conduct complaint targeted against Councillor Richard Carpenter, a long-standing, compassionate and highly-respected community representative. The Code of Conduct complaint was filed in response to remarks made while he passionately spoke on behalf of several citizens at risk of homelessness due to a swift "in-camera" decision to sell off municipally-owned, locally-rented homes located along Park Road South in Brantford.

The Integrity Commissioner investigated the incident and complaint; it was concluded that there was a violation of confidentiality in that instance. Given that a public apology of the violation was displayed immediately by Councillor Carpenter following the original comments, a consequence of public reprimand was recommended by the Integrity Commissioner given the scale of the violation in relation to other similar investigations. Unfortunately, certain members of City Council felt that this recommendation was too lenient; and in turn surpassed the recommendation of public reprimand, pushed for and passed through a vote of 6-4 in favour of a 30 day pay suspension for the month of January 2025. Many members of Council voiced their concerns of this amended consequence being too harsh and not appropriately reflecting the original concern.

This fundraiser is an effort to share community support and backing in response to what the public also feels is a harsh financial consequence to this action, particularly around the holiday season.

Councillor Carpenter has been an incredible advocate for the Citizens of Brantford for 32 years. For over 3 decades, he has passionately and professionally represented the voices of the community, standing tall on countless occations in opposition to hasty, short-sighted decisions that would negatively impacts citizens not only within his ward of representation (Ward 4) but residents of the entire City. His dedication to upholding public transparency and democracy while serving as a City Council Representative and his support towards senior citizens, veterans, public recreation and the environment is unmatched. He has served on an endless number of committees and task forces that are vital in the efficient operation of this City. Including but not limited to;

Councillor Carpenter is nothing short of an inspirational example of what a City Councillor should embody as a public servant. The decision to restrict an entire month's compensation for his commitment to serve this community could have a detrimental impact not only directly to himself and his family, but his efforts to continue to serve this community as a whole. We simply do not wish to see that happen. During this holiday season, I ask that you take a moment to review the incident and decision yourself and if you are able, donate to counteract this loss in wages for one of the best Councillor's this City has ever had. Please share this fundraiser and offer your personal comments of how Councillor Carpenter's compassion and support has impacted your life.

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Link to City Council Meeting dated June 25th, 2024, in Reference to Code of Conduct Complaint Commentary (1:51:44 - 1:57:15)

(Full Discussion of the Agenda Item 1:09:22 - 2:09:58)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAjiKonHeIo

Link to Code of Conduct Investigation – Integrity

Commissioner Report No. 2024-721 (Refer to page 58):

https://calendar.brantford.ca/meetings/Detail/2024-12-17-1800-City-Council/51477406-2638-4c94-b3e6-b24500e42498

Link to City of Brantford Council Meeting (Timestamp 11:35 - 1:02:40)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryyKsnkt9M0

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Community Comments in Response to the decision:



1.

"Dear Commissioner,

This is an open letter from a community in support of Councillor Richard Carpenter, in response to your Investigation Report dated November 25, 2024. While we appreciate the efforts made in your investigation, we must express our concerns regarding the report's motivation, credibility and completeness, particularly its lack of sufficient case law to support your conclusions which is alarming.

1. Lack of Credibility

The report fails to provide a robust legal framework for the allegations against Councillor Carpenter. Specifically, it does not reference any relevant case law that would substantiate the claims of misconduct based on the Code of Conduct sections cited. This omission raises serious questions about the validity of the findings and suggests a lack of thoroughness in the investigative process. Courts typically rely on established precedents to interpret legal standards; without such references, the report lacks the necessary foundation to support its conclusions.

2. Incomplete Analysis

The report presents a one-sided view of the events surrounding the June 25, 2024 meeting. It does not adequately consider the context in which Councillor Carpenter made his statements—specifically, that they were made during a heated debate focused on urgent housing issues affecting constituents. The failure to acknowledge this context undermines the report's objectivity and completeness.

3. Absence of Key Legal Precedents

In legal matters, particularly those involving allegations of misconduct by public officials, it is crucial to reference applicable case law. The absence of such references in your report suggests an incomplete analysis that does not fully engage with the legal standards governing confidentiality and conduct within municipal governance. For instance, previous case law indicates that transparency is essential when discussing matters impacting public welfare, which should have been considered in evaluating Councillor Carpenter's actions.

4. Misinterpretation of Intent

The report implies that Councillor Carpenter's comments were premeditated and intended for political gain; however, this assertion lacks supporting evidence and fails to consider his immediate apology following the meeting. His remarks were made spontaneously in response to ongoing discussions about housing strategies and should not be construed as a calculated breach of confidentiality.

Conclusion

In light of these points, we respectfully request that you reconsider your findings in light of the incomplete nature of your investigation and the lack of credible legal support for your conclusions. The absence of relevant case law significantly undermines the integrity of the report and calls into question its motivation and suitability as a basis for any disciplinary action against Councillor Carpenter.

We, as a community appreciate your attention to this matter, will continue to follow your decisions and look forward to your reconsideration.

Sincerely,

A city in waiting…

Mark St. Angelo"