After a five-year struggle, Mayor Daryl Bennett will return to his seat on the Peterborough Police Services Board. Monday night, members of city council ratified a decision they made last week to allow Bennett back on the board but not after debate between his supporters and those who thought others should have a seat at the table.
“Anyone, myself included that has served on the police board in the past should not be included this time around,” Coun. Gary Baldwin said.
Bennett was dismissed after an Ontario Police Services commission investigation found he made disparaging remarks about the board, the Police Services Act and police chief Murray Rodd. In August of this year, Bennett announced he intended to seek to return and city council voted 8-3 to allow him to resume his seat.
Two seats on the board are set aside for council members and in his absence councillors Dan McWilliams and Dave Haake had served. Haake says he will step aside for Bennet, adding the mayor should not have been removed in the first place.
“I can think of nothing worse than being accused of something and then found innocent after the fact and then still being hung out to dry,” Haake said.
At last night’s meeting, Coun. Diane Therrien suggested the seats on the Peterborough Police Services Board should go to other council members who could bring a fresh outlook to the board, not a load of baggage.
“There are other qualified people around this table who could bring that perspective to the police services board, people who don’t have past acrimonious relationship with police leadership,” Therrien said.
Bennett and McWilliams will return to the board on Nov. 30.
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