London’s city manager says city staff have experienced a “barrage of negativity” following the story of a cancer survivor who was ticketed by city bylaw officials for driving patients to and from the hospital.
The unidentified woman told the London Free Press that she was handed a $2,260 fine under the city’s vehicle for hire bylaw after a bylaw officer pretended to be a patient needing a ride. She had been charging roughly $12 a ride to cover gas and maintenance.
The woman initially told the paper she received no warnings before she was given the fine, then admitted days later she lied and had received a warning and a letter before the ticket.
She also admitted to giving unlicensed rides to other parts of the city.
The story ignited a backlash against city staff.
“I’d be remiss not to speak about the barrage of negative attention that our bylaw manager and team have been subjected to over the last week. These attacks have not only been unwarranted, but unfair,” said city manager Martin Hayward while addressing London city council Tuesday night.
Orest Katolyk, the city’s manager of bylaw enforcement was bound by privacy laws and was unable to comment on the matter.
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“They were based on an article that didn’t have all the facts,” said Hayward. “I can assure you that our bylaw team is dedicated to serve this community and quite frankly they were their job in addressing an unlicensed vehicle for hire.”
London city council went behind closed doors Tuesday to discuss a personnel matter related to the situation. No details were provided after they returned to council chambers.
A gofundme campaign set up by London lawyer Jeff Schlemmer immediately after the woman went public with the tickets and before the full story was revealed raised $8,657, surpassing the initial goal of $3,000.
Schlemmer has offered refunds to anyone who donated. Out of the 78 people who donated, seven have asked for a refund.
Schlemmer says $2,710 has been spent on paying off the tickets and the paralegal fees and the woman at the centre of the story, who he describes only as ‘Nancy,’ has suggested the remaining money be donated to either St. Joseph’s Hospital or the Wellspring London & Region Cancer Support Centre.
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