With his family in the gallery, a contrite Coun. Ralph Cipolla stood up at City Hall Monday night and apologized for his breach of the city’s code of conduct.
“I take any breach of the code of conduct seriously and I should have known better,” Cipolla said.
Moments before, the city’s integrity commissioners, Jeff Abrams and Janet Petrovski, summarized their probe of a complaint filed regarding the city councillor’s conduct during an October, 2019 incident.
Petrovski said they “thoroughly investigated … in an independent and fair manner” a complaint from a city bylaw officer who claimed Cipolla pressured her to revoke a parking ticket she issued to a patron of his downtown store.
Petrovski said the investigation concluded Cipolla “had contravened the code of conduct in some of his actions, in particular pressuring a municipal enforcement officer to cancel a ticket instead of following the appropriate policy, raising his voice, intimidating her and making her feel uncomfortable when he patted her shoulders.”
As a result, the integrity commissioner recommended that Cipolla lose five days’ pay.
“This is more than just a technical breach in our view,” Petrovski stated, noting there is a “continuum” of possible sanctions they could have recommended.
She said the exercise should serve as a reminder to other politicians.
“We believe (this is) a takeaway for elected officials to recognize that they do not have a role that involves interfering in the administration of justice with respect to law enforcement,” said Petrovski. “Their role does not enable them to direct staff with respect to a particular action on the ticket as we found had occurred in this case.”
Ciplla said, “upon reflection, I understand my actions were perceived as inappropriate according to the Orillia code of conduct. I should have followed the process and I am sorry,” said the Ward 2 councillor, who apologized to the “bylaw officer, all city staff, Orillians and my distinguished colleagues.”
He said he “genuinely felt” he was trying to help “a constituent who needed assistance as I feel I have been doing for the better part of 50 years. My intentions were not to intimidate anyone. I had no intention to bring any discomfort to this individual and since it was perceived that way I humbly apologize.”
Cipolla said he hopes this incident won’t define his tenure.
“My hope is I won't be judged based on this incident, but the decades of strong character and work I have done in this community that I love so much,” said Cipolla, his voice breaking.
“I look forward to continuing my service to this community.”
Coun. Ted Emond deemed the matter “extremely serious.”
“It is not just a censure of Coun. Cipolla’s behaviour and the incident described, but a heads-up for all of us at this table,” said Emond. “As councillors, we are constantly in public view and have an obligation to behave appropriately at all times with city staff, council colleagues and the public.”
He said the world is a dramatically different place than when he was the city’s mayor 30 years ago.
“I can attest that society in Canada is much different today,” said Emond. “What was tolerated behaviour of councillors then is no longer acceptable today. This evolution in tolerable behaviours has necessitated the need for codes of conduct and integrity commissioners to guide and adjudicate our behaviour ... This is unfortunate but a reality of the diversity in which we live and govern.”
He said it’s a “stark reminder … to continually be diligent in our behaviours (and ensure) that our behaviours are aligned with today’s norms and values.”
Emond acknowledged Cipolla’s “long and valued contribution to Orillia as a person, as a family man, as an owner/operator of businesses in our community, as a Rotarian and as a city councillor.”
Cipolla’s “advocacy on behalf of his constituents is legendary,” said Emond.
“I know you’re upset, distressed and embarrassed by the very public airing of this matter and I trust you see this as a learning experience as we all should,” said Emond, who noted Cipolla “will continue to be a valued member of council and a significant contributor to our community.”
Council voted unanimously to endorse the recommendations of the integrity commissioners to dock Cipolla five days pay.
The integrity commissioner’s report will also be posted on the city’s website.
