By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Despite a plea from Coun. Rhonda Jubenville to “move on” and forgo a recommendation from the integrity commissioner (IC) to dock her two month’s pay, Chatham-Kent council decided otherwise.
At the Dec. 1 meeting, council voted 9-5 to suspend Jubenville’s pay, based on a report from former IC Mary Ellen Bench. Bench recommended the two-month suspension, stating Jubenville had breached Section 15 of the Code of Conduct – the section she considers to be the most “significant breach of the code” noting “bullying and abuse” significantly impacted members of the public, staff and council.
The sanctions in question stem from social media posts made by Jubenville relating to a flag flap in 2023. In the spring of that year, Jubenville put forward a motion that only municipal, provincial and federal flags be flown at municipal sites. The councillor’s motion came after a request from a Chatham-based pro-life group to fly its flag was bypassed by the municipality.
The issue snowballed on social media, devolving into a heated discussion about Pride flags on municipal property and LGTBQ rights. Following a complaint about some of Jubenville’s social media posts, an investigation was launched by the IC.
In her original report, Bench found Jubenville had breached Sectio 10 and Section 15 of the code and recommended council dock her three month’s pay. Council went ahead with the three-month pay suspension – the harshest penalty available. However, Jubenville appealed the matter in court and this past summer, a judicial review quashed Bench’s original report and council’s penalty. The three-member panel found she did not breach Section 10 but found it to be “reasonable” she had breached Section 15.
As a result, Jubenville was awarded $20,000 in costs from the municipality. Bench was asked to revisit the matter and issue a report following the Judicial Review.
Those voting in favour of the two-month pay suspension Monday night included councillors Conor Allin, Brock McGregor, Anthony Ceccacci, Marjorie Crew, Hall, Melissa Harrigan, Morena McDonald, Jamie McGrail and Trevor Thompson.
Against were Lauren Anderson, Michael Bondy, Ryan Doyle, Amy Finn and John Wright. Coun. Alysson Storey was attending the meeting remotely and was unable to register her vote.
Prior to the vote, Bondy and Doyle said they would not support the motion with Bondy stating he had another motion ready to go in the event the original one failed.
Wallaceburg Coun. Carmen McGregor and Mayor Darrin Canniff were absent from the meeting.
Council also heard the matter has cost the municipality $188,622, not including the $20,000 payment to Jubenville, an amount she had not yet received.
In light of the new two-month sanction and the fact the original payment had not been made, C-K deputy CAO Dave Taylor told council Jubenville will be reimbursed one-month’s salary.
Prior to the meeting, Jubenville asked for extra time to address council, speaking for eight minutes. During her talk, the councillor said Bench’s report was not “fulsome” and had many omissions.
In her comments posted online post meeting, Jubenville said Bench excluded many items from the report and it was “biased and prejudiced” against her.
“I feel my sincere words fell on mostly deaf ears,” the councillor wrote. “My naive self thought I had forged good professional relationships with most of these people. I thought perhaps they (council) realized who I really was and not how a biased integrity commissioner had falsely presented me. Boy, was I wrong,” she typed on social media.
Jubenville has not yet confirmed if she will appeal the decision.
