Town's defence confirms mayor involved in GCC talks before
March
Posted January
3, 2013
The Statement of Defence (SoD) filed in response to the Angela
Drainville lawsuit confirms that New Tecumseth mayor Mike MacEachern
and senior municipal staff were in discussions with the Gibson Cultural
Centre (GCC) Corporation nearly three months before a working committee
of council was struck that involved the municipality purchasing the
property.
In a November 27, 2012 press release announcing that negotiations
between the Town and GCC had collapsed, it's noted that "Since being
approached by the Gibson Centre Board in March 2012, town officials
have been discussing the development of an agreement to purchase the
Tupper Street facility within the mandate provided by Council."
However, the Town's SoD admits that meetings took place in December
2011 that included the mayor, GCC vice-president (at the time)
Christine Brayford, and Ms. Drainville, who was the GCC Executive
Director.
Additionally, what the Town denied was an in camera meeting, terming it
instead a "confidential" session requested by the GCC, was held on
January 17, 2012 that included the mayor, deputy mayor Rick Milne, CAO
Terri Caron, Manager of Finance Mark Sirr and Parks and Recreation
Director Ray Osmond.
Asked this morning to explain the discrepancies in time lines, mayor
MacEachern, replied, "As the matter is before the courts I have no
comment."
While components of the GCC issue are included in Ms. Drainville's
Statement of Claim, the Town has countered "that meetings between the
Municipality and the Gibson Centre are not relevant to the Plaintiff's
Claim."
