A sure sign of desperation has emerged in the ongoing effort to destroy the reputations of four duly-elected Fort Erie Councillors.
The rumoured "Project 4-2-0," apparently started shortly after incumbent Bob Steckley, John Hill, Don Lubberts and Paul Collard were elected to council in 2010 in Wards 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively.
The ultimate insult in a long line of insults to the democratic process was a conflict of interest lawsuit against the four filed by former Ward 4 Councillor Tim Whitfield who was roundly beaten by John Hill in 2010.
Whitfield had been persuaded to file the suit by mayor-by-five-votes Doug Martin who has lost much of his power since the new council was elected. Whitfield met with Martin at Dave Hurren's law office in early April 2013. Hurren also does legal work for the Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism Corporation whose general manager, Jim Thibert has had a difficult relationship with the four because they have dared to expect him to be accountable to the taxpayers for the over half a million dollars that the EDTC receives from the town each year.
The case has stumbled its way through the court system, according to a plan by a very small, select group of local business people, including Marina Butler, a candidate now running against John Hill, who are funding the conflict of interest lawsuit following the termination of the town solicitor. The solicitor, in an attempt to receive a larger settlement threatened further lawsuits for unproven harassment by the councillors. It appears that she violated the terms of the agreement by revealing details of her settlement to a Martin-friendly local reporter who is now laughably running for mayor.
So, now it appears that Dave Hurren has defied court protocol in releasing certain court documents to Greg Bonito who runs a local blog that was created to destroy the reputations of the four councillors. Hurren has reportedly also attempted to enter sealed court documents into Don Lubberts' cross examination testimony.
If it is proven that Hurren, as an officer of the court and fully aware of protocol and procedure, went outside his duties and released information inappropriately, there could be serious consequences for him.
It's just another example of the lengths that some people will go to to thwart the democratic process and the voters' decisions. The effort has been funded and encouraged by a very small minority, some of whom are now seeking office while others are chafing at the change in the power structure on council.
Make the connection, it's all right in front of you. Do you want your town run by the kind of people who subvert the democratic process for their own ends? Remember that, were it not for a "mix-up" at a polling station in Fort Erie, there may have been a different person wearing the mayor's chain of office. Instead, a mayor-by-five-votes persuades a losing candidate to file a lawsuit funded by a few "friends of Doug;" handled by the lawyer for the EDTC, who gives unreleased court documents to Greg Bonito, the court jester/troll/blogger.
The X-town solicitor, sign's a disclosure clause and then not only blab's about she shares the letter of agreement!! I wouldn't want her as my lawyer!
ReplyDeleteBingo. By now, Hurren and Bonito should have been formally informed of the breach. It appears that transcripts were published prematurely without providing other attorneys copies to examine before publication.
DeleteI stopped in at the Noyes campaign office to pick up my sign, she called me a few weeks ago to see if I would once again put up a sign and of course I said YES. But even with this sign indicating I am supporting Noyes, I get the Redekop people bothering me, asking if I am sure,? Well I am sure, and so is everyone else who has whatever sign they have in their yard. If they didn't want a particular sign they can just take it down themselves, with the new by law, signs can only go up with the owners permission. I know for a fact she or her campaign workers called everyone and asked if they wanted a sign. Most said YES. I think the Redekop camp is spreading the rumour and bothering people, will it only makes them look desperate . I am now a volunteer for her campaign and have talked with volunteers who helped with the phone calling. The other mayoral candidates need to be more honest with their volunteers and stop encouraging them to bother or harass people with Noyes ( or other) signs in their yard.
ReplyDeleteIf the transcripts have been filed in the court office, they are public documents unless the court has ordered them sealed. See s. 137 of the Courts of Justice Act.
ReplyDeleteI would think that since the Town signed not to disclose information regarding Heather Salter that the Town is keeping it's agreement. Not to would be libellous.
ReplyDeleteSo all those who have broken the agreement have committed a crime. I hope the time will come that these persons will be discredited and sued.
If the court made the decision that certain documents not be revealed, THEN it obviously wasn't The Four who were trying to hide anything. Use logic, think about it.
ReplyDeleteTo certain commenters who don't grasp the basics. I published portions of cross examinations months after they were made public and with the full knowledge of the lawyers representing the four. Hurren appears to have released the recent cross examinations of Hill and Lubberts to Greg Bonito before Hill and Lubberts received their copies, thus the information was not yet approved to be made public.
ReplyDeleteI took down the posts I put up as a precaution and a courtesy, although those transcripts have been in the public realm for months and have been approved by all parties to the action.
There are none so blind…as those that will not see. (aka Fort Erie Ninja)
DeleteI got a real chuckle when I read in The Times that Mike Cloutier says he has "the ability to see all sides of an issue impartially and without a partisan bias."
ReplyDeleteWho new he was a comedian!
The headline "Cloutier says he intends to leave Fort Erie in better shape that he found it."
His Herald comments are very hateful, in my opinion. And that's for the better?
Lots of laughs there. Too bad the sentence didn't read: "Cloutier says he intends to leave Fort Erie."
DeleteThis is a guy who owes his very existence to people like Thibert, Ron Reinas, the Annunziatas and the old guard at town hall.
Those who are responsible for encouraging and financing him all these years must be ever so proud of their creation eh?
ReplyDeleteTHE HOOK:
ReplyDeleteMayoral Candidate Steve Pessaro works diligently to revive local long closed aged Kinsmen Pool.
THE LINE:
The Fort Erie Underwater Recovery Unit takes on all the responsibilities, management, maintenance and financial responsibilities to reopen the Kinsmen Pool.
THE SINKER:
The contract isn't discussed until after the Municipal Election.
holy mackerel, filter this! Wouldn't it seem fishy if Steve Pessaro's Campaign manager was a member of the underwater unit?
Just another piece of the web of deceit that is holding the town back from its greatness. Is this person responsible for "sitting" on the agreement papers from the town? Or was it Passero? Or was it VP Donna Wood? Someone kept this vital information from URU members until just recently. Purposeful delay? And what about Passero being in conflict about this as well as his position on the committee working to find a place for the new high school. Passero's wife works for the DSBN.
ReplyDelete"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." (Shakespeare)
Passero is just doing what he always does, spin a story & hope that it comes true!
ReplyDeleteThe truth is only getting in the way of his election promises, he is nothing more than a 1 ward candidate certainly not Mayor material.
Just like his business, how does one run a Catering business with No Advertising what so ever? Does the business exist in Name only?
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