Saskatoon city councillor Darren Hill sanctioned for ethics, confidentiality breaches

Saskatoon’s Ward One councillor, Darren Hill, has been disciplined for three complaints against him.

City councillors voted unanimously on Monday to pass recommendations made by the city’s Integrity Commissioner.

“The Integrity Commissioner has followed the legal process as set out by the Code of Ethical Conduct for Members of City Council bylaw and has made an independent and impartial ruling based on his review of all of the information related to this matter,” Mayor Charlie Clark said.

At the beginning of the matter, Hill briefly spoke via telephone.

“I’m sorry I’m the reason we are here today, and I take full responsibility for my actions,” said Hill. “I want to assure my colleagues and the public that even though we’re dealing with matters today, they are well in the past.”

Coun. Hilary Gough asked Hill whether he felt he breached councillor confidentiality rules.

“The report … suggests that your interpretation is not the same as the Integrity Commissioner’s. Do you acknowledge that these are indeed breaches of our code and of the confidentiality that is expected of all members of council?” she asked.

“No. My interpretation of the Cities Act is different than the Integrity Commissioner’s,” Hill answered. “However, I will abide by the decision of the Integrity Commissioner as the process has unfolded.”

Two separate reports by commissioner Randy Langgard outline three incidents. The first set of complaints was filed by city manager Jeff Jorgenson on May 12. The second was filed on June 8 by Jorgenson and city clerk Adam Tittemore.

Meeting area damage

The first incident in June 2020 said that without city permission, Hill began altering the councillor meeting and changing area earlier than planned, causing $10,000 in damage.

“Damage included carpets, wall coverings, countertops and damaged furniture,” Langgard said in his report.

Hill was asked to stop what he was doing and apologized for his actions.

Parking enforcement officer complaint

The second incident involved four people who received warning tickets after parking in a bike lane on Spadina Crescent on Sept. 30, 2020.

They complained to Hill about it, and the parking officer who issued the tickets admitted to making a mistake.

However, Hill left two voicemails with administrative staff, posted a video on his website and sent emails on the matter.

Langgard said the issue wasn’t that Hill was concerned, but rather with the way he went about the matter, demanding the officer’s name on several occasions.

Langgard also noted Hill took the issue even further by posting a video “essentially attacking or disparaging the parking enforcement unit, and emphasizing how ‘ridiculous’ it was for ‘that officer’ to be ticketing at that time along Spadina Crescent.”

The video was posted as of Aug. 10, nearly one year after the incident occurred.

Confidentiality and Ethics breaches

Both Jorgenson and Tittemore complained to Langgard they believed Hill breached ethics and confidentiality rules at a special city council meeting on May 10.

The breaches had to do with a confidential  letter Clark and the rest of council received from the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).

According to Langgard’s report, Hill at that point had been on the FCM board for 14 years and was in line to become its first vice-president. However, questions were raised about his personal conduct over the years. Council had to decide whether to confirm his nomination again before a May 14 deadline.

The letter was discussed at three meetings on April 19, 29 and May 3.

The report indicates Hill was told the information from the meetings was confidential. On May 10, a special council meeting was held to discuss whether council would endorse Hill’s upcoming nomination to the FCM board. The councillors voted against it.

It was during that time Hill talked about the contents of the confidential letter, and discussions during the in-camera meetings. He believed that because the information was about him, no privacy or confidentiality rules were breached.

Discipline

Council decided unanimously to fine Hill $2,500 for damage he caused to the meeting room, to be paid within 90 days.

He will also have to pay out of pocket for “respectful workplace training” and “ethics and confidentiality” training.

Both courses will have to be completed within six months, and he must provide a certificate of completion to the city clerk.

Clark will also send a letter of reprimand to Hill.