Pelham's mayor is being reprimanded and his pay is being suspended for 45 days after council found he showed no remorse after breaching the Code of Conduct.
Council voted to level the penalties against Marvin Junkin last night in regards to complaints surrounding a potential $25,000 donation from a cannabis producer to help with improvements to the bandshell.
Before council voted in favour of the punitive actions, Junkin stated, "I am embarrassed to be connected to a council, much less head of a council that has paid this much money to have the integrity commissioner and the ombudsman pass judgement on what can only be described by any stretch of the imagination as frivolous complaints. It is beyond belief that at this period of time during such a devastating pandemic when unemployment has skyrocketed and many tax payers are facing the loss of their businesses and/or their homes, that this council has been forced to deal with such trivial accusations."
During the vote Councillor Bob Hildebrandt expressed concern with the mayor's stance. "My concern is from the statement that I heard from the mayor tonight, I was hoping there would be a more apologetic and conciliatory position taken by the mayor. To me the mayor did not take that position. He took the position that what he did seemed to be right. And that to me is the reason why I'll support that motion."
Junkin ultimately determined that Pelham Council did not support the donation.