Aspden asks for police board investigation

BARRIE – Mayor Dave Aspden won’t have to answer council’s questions on why he bought $7,325 in ads for a new police chief without Barrie Police Services Board approval.

That question is now before the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC), as Aspden asked the quasi-judicial body to examine the board, his actions and possible political interference on the board.  

“Last Thursday, I delivered a letter to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission because I had concerns of a more serious nature. I want them to look at the board,” he said, as council was going to question him to determine whether to call in the OCPC to investigate his unapproved actions and spending.

He declared a conflict of interest and left the council table to sit in the audience and watch the discussion on a motion to ask the OCPC to examine his conduct.

“What really disturbs me is an attempt to not deal with an issue, but to throw up smoke and mirrors that suggest there are other issues on the police services board. It’s easy to run four rows up into the audience,” said Coun. John Brassard.

“I’m embarrassed to be part of a council led in this manner. We did what we had to do to ensure accountability and he doesn’t. Shame. It’s actually shameful behaviour.”

Others were just as shocked.

“I have no need to see Alice in Wonderland. I just went through the rabbit hole,” Coun. Barry Ward said.

Councillors were anticipating getting answers from Aspden about the ads that shocked the police board when they appeared in the Globe and Mail’s careers section Feb. 6,10 and 12. Full of grammatical and spelling errors, the ads ran without police board knowledge or approval, and just days after The Advance broke a story on police chief Wayne Frechette’s threat to resign. He is to retire Sept. 1.

Last week, Aspden urged councillors to discuss the issue in private because of another identifiable individual’s role. After five minutes in private, councillors decided the issue needed a public discussion, but delayed it a week so it could be broadcast on local television.

And to set the stage, council was to discuss a motion to ask the OCPC (formerly the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services) to investigate the mayor’s actions.

“This is interesting. Mayor Aspden requested an investigation. The first time anyone heard about that was on A News tonight at 6 p.m.,” said Coun. Lynn Strachan. “The mayor continues to do things without consulting anybody. We’re debating a motion that was trumped by something that went to OCPC.”

Councillors found out about the ad in a communications department e-mail at 6:22 p.m.

The city clerk did not have a copy of Aspden’s letter that could spark an investigation – and ring up legal fees for Aspden, the city and the police board.

Aspden’s move also made the motion by Coun. Mike Ramsay redundant. Ramsay wanted to call the OCPC to investigate the mayor – who in 2007 was the subject of a similar investigation.

Aspden pleaded guilty to breaking the Police Services Act’s code of conduct to avoid a hearing, but along with that issue and an OPP investigation into a China trip, he rang up tens of thousands in legal bills. The city covered $38,470 of that under its indemnification bylaw.

“What we have seen is a clever or not-so-clever attempt to trump a motion that might have been defeated because none of us wants to see this issue drag on,” Brassard added. “We did get the answers we needed (in a police board report last week). There are measures being put in place to ensure something like this does not happen again.”