There are calls for Niagara's CAO to resign or even be terminated in the wake of two third-party reports.
Ontario's Ombudsman released a report this week called 'Press Pause' which found the Niagara Region acted illegally when it forced a St.Catharines Standard reporter to leave a council meeting and had his equipment seized by the region.
The report stated that a lawyer hired by the region tried to influence the investigation and even dictate what was in it.
Some councillors say the region should have fully cooperated with the Ombudsman and are asking why a lawyer was hired in the first place.
Earlier this month a report on the hiring of CAO Carmen D'Angelo was released, you can read more on the Huberman report here.
Candidates for the Niagara Regional Chair position are making their voices heard on the matter.
Former Welland Mayor Damian Goulbourne, who is running for the Chair's position tells CKTB based on the evidence in front of him (The Huberman Report and the Ombudsman's report) he would work with council and HR to start a process to terminate the CAO.
Goulbourne says it's not a matter of an apology at this point, it's become a pattern in Niagara where the public and even the staff at the Niagara Region have lost faith and it's time for action.
Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn who is vying for the Chair's position says not only does he think Carmen D'Angelo should "go" but he voted against D'Angelo's hiring in the first place because he's not qualified for the job.
Augustyn says if he is elected as Chair he is committed to cleaning up these messes and bringing back integrity to the region.
We have reached out to the two other candidates, current Chair Alan Caslin and John Ringo Beam for their take on the matter.
CKTB has also reached out to D'Angelo for comment.