Sarnia council has decided to reprimand both City/County Councillor Bill Dennis and Mayor Mike Bradley without a financial penalty.
The group announced the decisions after considering two separate investigation reports from the city's integrity commissioner (IC) -- which recommended two day pay suspensions for each individual for code of conduct breaches.
City/County Councillor Brian White said the penalties rarely have an effect.
"Those of us who run [for municipal government] don't run our campaigns to be the police of other people that are chosen to work with us," said White. "I get that we have a Code of Conduct and it's really up to us to live up to that standard. I'm not going to dispute whatever was recommended by the integrity commissioner. His findings are here for everybody to read and I think that in itself is very clear for folks to make a judgement call on."
White called the reports "tiresome" and a province-wide problem.
"The penalties or repercussions should be dealt with at a different level," he said. "As difficult as it is sometimes to work with different folks based on their personality traits, or however they choose to conduct themselves, this just significantly drives that wedge even further when you politicize behaviour."
White said "the province needs to step up their game and deal with the behaviour of elected officials across the board."
"I'm not condoning anything, and [the report is] right here to read, but I honestly don't think [suspending the individuals] two days pay is going to make a lick of difference," White added.
City/County Councillor Chrissy McRoberts agreed that the Ontario government should make integrity commissioner results stick.
"In saying that, I'm more concerned that we just can't come together and be respectful. We can raise our voices and we can debate, but at the end of the day we have to be respectful so that we can come to the next meeting and deal with what is best for the city," McRoberts said.
Councillor Anne Marie Gillis agreed that determining a punishment shouldn't be their job and noted the separate complaints, against Dennis and Bradley, were brought forward by residents.
"That is why I have recommended that we reprimand, because we are recognizing that there have been some serious consequences to a member of the community," Gillis said.
In each case, councillors George Vandenberg and Terry Burrell voted against the motions, preferring the cases be received and filed with no action taken.
"If the province wants to come down with some kind of a way of disciplining members of council for their actions, then it should be through some kind of a court," Burrell said.
Burrell said a judge would make a decision and move onto the next case.
"If we have to be the judges, we have to work with the person again next week," Burrell added. "So, it's not a proper forum for these types of discipline. So, I'm just not going to support any of this kind of thing. It's not fair."
Councillor Vandenberg recommended the city lobby the province again for legislation.
Dennis and Bradley declared a conflict when discussions centered on their investigations and didn't vote.
The first report looked into complaints launched against Dennis by the director of the Sarnia-Lambton Children's Aid Society.
Dawn Flegel made a formal complaint to IC Benjamin Drory and the Human Rights Commission after Dennis criticized a recruitment ad, posted to the agency’s Facebook page, on his social media page.
The second report focused on a complaint made by Patrick Coutu against Mayor Mike Bradley.
Coutu, a real estate management company owner, submitted an email trail and argued Bradley had contravened the Code of Conduct within it.
Council took a five minute break after wrapping their discussions on both reports.
When the regular meeting resumed, both Dennis and Bradley were absent for the remainder of the meeting.