FORT FRANCES – Officials with Fort Frances addressed their disappointment in the former councillor David Kircher's continued accusations against the town's employees.
In a media release, town officials stated they are proud of their employees for their hard work and dedication despite the immense pressure from the public.
“I’m proud of every one of our employees," said Mayor Andrew Hallikas. "It is the role of a town employee to take their duties seriously and deal with every matter impartially.”
The release acknowledged that working for a municipality comes with higher exposure to criticism from the public, and those staff members who have been recipients of negativity are to be commended for their dedication and integrity.
“The Town of Fort Frances wishes to declare their support for our staff members, and stand by the excellence, fairness, and integrity of their work,” the municipality said in the release, which was issued after Kircher filed legal proceedings against the Town of Fort Frances in June.
The municipality stated they would not provide comments on the legal proceedings.
Kircher relinquished his position as councillor in May after David G. Boghosian, the town's integrity commissioner, found Kircher in violation of the municipal code of conduct for misusing his municipal email, circumventing the chief administrative officer command of staff, and acting in bad faith with members of administration and council.
In his judicial review application, Kircher claimed Boghosian's report was flawed and unfair.
In Kircher’s judicial review application, he said Gabrielle Lecuyer, the town's clerk, failed to provide documents to Boghosian including email exchanges and attachments sent or received by Kircher.
He also claimed Lecuyer did not provide Boghosian with email exchanges by other councillors which would raise some of the same issues that were alleged against Kircher – including other councillors' improper use of the municipal email system and the sending of emails instructing municipal staff to conduct business without councils’ approval.
Requests for comment from Kircher were not returned.
