Peterborough mayor rejoining Police Services Board next month

Five years after he was removed from his position, Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett will be rejoining the Peterborough Police Services Board.

At city council on Monday night, Bennett presented a report outlining new council appointments for various committees and boards — including Bennett appointing himself to the police services board.

“I announced this year that I would be going back to the board in the fall and that was my intention and so it’s the time to do it,” said Bennett.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I announced this year that I would be going back to the board in the fall and that was my intention and so it's the time to do it," said Bennett.

Bennett was suspended from the board in 2012 after he was accused of misconduct including alleged disparaging comments about Police Chief Murray Rodd and the police force during 2011 budget deliberations.

The Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) investigated and Bennett was originally charged with 11 counts of misconduct. Following a hearing, in 2014, Bennett was found guilty of just 1 of the charges.

But after the mayor threatened legal action, 11 of the charges were dropped, giving Bennett an opportunity to return to the board.

In early 2016 the OCPC concluded that the board’s ongoing problems placed them in an “emergency status” and subsequently appointed lawyer Mark Sandler to do an independent review of the board.

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His report described the board as “dysfunctional” and advised that Bennett not return to the board.

But on Monday, Bennett said both councillors Dave Haacke and Dan McWilliams volunteered to step down from their positions on the board to allow Bennett to rejoin.

“Both indicated that either one of them would be willing to step down in favour of myself going and so I chose Coun. Haacke,” said Bennett.

Sandler’s report also indicated police board member Ken East did the brunt of the work but Coun. Gary Baldwin — a former civilian member on the board — questioned that finding.

“I am wondering how the board is going to get any of the work done if you seem to be the only one, not the only one but the one doing the predominant amount of the work,” said Baldwin.

East — in attendance at the council meeting — was reluctant to accept any credit and instead praised Haacke’s contributions.

“Amongst the really hard workers on our board is Coun. Haacke who puts in the hours, steps up — no disrespect at all to anyone who replaces him — he’s going to be missed,” said East.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Amongst the really hard workers on our board is Coun. Haacke who puts in the hours, steps up — no disrespect at all to anyone who replaces him — he's going to be missed," said East.

Board chairman Bob Hall says a new 2017-2019 business plan will address workload issues, among the recommendations in Sandler’s review.

“The board is going to tweak our meeting schedule, where we’re going to meet twice a month and make sure we all work a little more collectively and more efficiently,” said Hall.

Bennett will officially rejoin the police board on Nov. 30.