how much of this stems from the completely ridiculous salaries people at the top of the municipal ladder make? Chris Murray makes 200K! He manages a billion dollar organization. So maybe Chapman reflects the type of chief of staff you can buy for 100K. Bratina's early decision to spend a pittance on his own staff looks good on paper, sounds good as a delivery on early promises, but has been totally dysfunctional from a capacity standpoint.

This evening we will know if Bratina will be censured. Should be an entertaining show on Cable 14.

Hamilton Council censuring Mayor Bratina is akin to the Hell's Angels censuring Vito Rizzuto.

The Mayor has been censured. Only Bratina opposed.

That's what makes this all so completely and utterly embarrassing for Bratina. Hell, I'm embarrassed as a Hamiltonian.

Wow. I expected him to be censured, but I didn't think it would be (essentially) unanimous.

I also didn't expect that. I think that speaks almost as loudly as the censure itself.

Dreschel's bloodlust was left unsatisfied by quite possibly the most polite and cordial censure in the history of mankind, so in his desperation he returns to flog a dead horse.

Meanwhile, Councillor Terry Whitehead is on the record as saying after the meeting that Bratina "has the making of being best mayor". Somehow that didn't make it into his column. Maybe Dreschel missed it because he was busy draining the blood of a dead rat into a sherry glass at the time.

Council directed staff to explain the $8,000 vacation payout, not Dreschel.

This payout is not a dead horse. Bratina, only recently revealed the reason himself, in his recent email to the Spec, which raised concerns.

Censure: Not a proud moment, but necessary
 

I am not disputing whether or not council asked in camera for the review. I am saying that Dreschel's article is exploiting the rumblings he hears through anonymous sources to try to get more legs to what is essentially a non-story.

Last November, Council asked for an explanation on the legality of Chapman's $30,000 raise, and they were told it was legal. In March they have directed staff for an explanation of the pay in lieu of vacation time (allegedly - if the request is made in camera it is not supposed to be discussed publicly), and there is absolutely no reason to believe the outcome will be any different. In the unlikely event that staff come back next week saying the payment in lieu of vacation was improper, then there may be a story.

Personally, I would be more comfortable if council was directing staff in a manner that would be more productive than simply conducting pointless political witch hunts. I for one would love to know how a receptionist ended up on the $100,000 sunshine list, and how it came to be that over 700 employees of the City came to be on this list.

I agree that Dreschel seems out to get Bratina, but I have no problem reading through his opinion and putting the facts into context . Dreschel, much like a Bill Kelly, opines, and that's fine. Knowing that, it's easy enough to expect it (whether you agree with the poinion or not) , and to cut through the bull when necessary.

So, while I get what people like Dreschel and Kelly are paid to do, and I disagree with both of them often enough, the story here is the mayor and his actions and words. He has a completely different standard to uphold.

BTW, IIRC I think I read somewhere that the receptionist was the recipient of a legal settlement, specifics of which were not divulged for confidentiality reasons.

As I had predicted, staff reported back this week that the $8000 paid to Peggy Chapman in lieu of vacation time did not violate the city's vacation entitlement policies.

According to a Dreschel editorial I read this morning, it did actually... but I can't seem to find it on the spec site now. It was an editorial on how the rule on vacation payouts has been bent in the last few years as it is supposed to be paid out only in circumstances where the vacation has been missed due to sickness or absence, not workload as was Chapman's case. Apparently this is only now coming to council's attention.

Part of Dreschel's piece. http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...y-policy-flaws

The article can be found here:

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...y-policy-flaws

The policy states payout can be made in extenuating circumstances. It does cite two examples of what would be considered extenuating circumstances, which were the examples of absence or extended illness. The policy does not say these are the only acceptable circumstances, but are examples of acceptable circumstances. Workloads preventing vacation, while not explicitly cited as an example in the policy, has been accepted as extenuating circumstances permitting payouts for other staff in the past. Consequently, staff reported that Chapman's vacation payout did not violate vacation entitlement policies.

Emma Reilly (@EmmaatTheSpec)
2012-06-08 2:49 PM
BREAKING: #HamOnt's integrity commissioner has ruled against Mayor Bob Bratina

Emma Reilly (@EmmaatTheSpec)
2012-06-08 2:54 PM
Integrity Commissioner Earl Basse finds Bratina broke council's code of conduct during #Peggygate scandal. #HamOnt

Bratina runs afoul of integrity complaint

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...rity-complaint

Hamilton’s integrity commissioner has ruled that Mayor Bob Bratina has violated council’s code of conduct.

Earl Basse found the mayor’s handling of his chief of staff’s raise broke council’s code of conduct. Bratina initially blamed the raise on the city’s human resources staff.

A copy of the report was sent to councillors Friday and obtained by the Spectator.