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Norfolk mayor posts apology

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Norfolk Mayor Kristal Chopp has posted a written apology on her Facebook page in response to a recommendation from Norfolk’s integrity commissioner and county council.

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“This is an open letter to each and every dedicated member of Norfolk County staff who shows unwavering support for our beautiful county and wants to support this Council’s new agenda,” she wrote.

“If my actions, of ripping a piece of paper, ever made you feel like you weren’t a part of the biggest, most important, movement in the history of Norfolk County, please accept my deepest and sincerest apologies. You are critical in the work that is being done and vital to our success.”

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Chopp’s posting, which also touches on her platform for financial stability and change for the county, came just minutes before the May 31 deadline set by council to issue an apology.

Earlier this year, Chopp expressed dissatisfaction with a report from the county planning department on the issue of backyard chickens in urban areas of the county.

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As the mayor critiqued a report by principal planner Mat Vaughan she tore a copy of it in half at the council table in front of Vaughan, members of council, members of the public in the gallery, and in front of cameras live-streaming the meeting over the internet and cable TV.

Norfolk’s integrity commissioner John Mascarin received two complaints about Chopp’s actions as potential violations of council’s code of conduct and memorandums governing council-staff relations.

In his report to council May 7, Mascarin sided with the complainants. He recommended Chopp apologize and council agreed.

Council’s resolution stated: “That council ask that the mayor recognize council’s displeasure with her actions Jan. 8, and further that council ask that the mayor offer a public apology no later than May 31.”

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On Facebook, Chopp states the post is evidence of her apology: “Yesterday, I received a two page letter from our integrity commissioner in Toronto asking for evidence of my apology or another ‘report’ to council would be forthcoming. This is my evidence. Our resources here in Norfolk County are scarce. Please, Mr. Mascarin, Norfolk County residents deserve my full attention back on job that I was elected to do.”

It’s unknown at this point if the Facebook posting meets Mascarin’s request.

MAYOR KRISTAL CHOPP’S FACEBOOK POSTING

This is an open letter to each and every dedicated member of Norfolk County staff who shows unwavering support for our beautiful county and wants to support this Council’s new agenda.

If my actions, of ripping a piece of paper, ever made you feel like you weren’t a part of the biggest, most important, movement in the history of Norfolk County, please accept my deepest and sincerest apologies. You are critical in the work that is being done and vital to our success.

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I ran on a platform of bringing financial stability and a change in culture to our great county and I stand by this. In the future, I will endeavor to ensure that proper decorum is observed, but as with my apology, I will continue to expect that any and all directions that are within the legal bounds of Council are followed to a tee.

Today, a media release that was prepared by our CAO, Director of Communications and myself was made public explaining the imperativeness for a moratorium on development in Port Dover. Drastic times call for drastic measures and this is absolutely no exception. Our water issue in Port Dover has been building in magnitude for years now and this Council needs to make the tough decisions that should have been made long ago.

Yesterday, I received a two page letter from our integrity commissioner in Toronto asking for evidence of my apology or another ‘report’ to council would be forthcoming. This is my evidence. Our resources here in Norfolk County are scarce. Please, Mr. Mascarin, Norfolk County residents deserve my full attention back on job that I was elected to do.

Sincerely,

Mayor Chopp

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