Why is the Mayor of Thorold so conflicted? That’s a question some members of city council want to have answered.
On April 26, at a special city council meeting regarding a proposed development on Decew Road, Thorold Mayor Terry Ugulini opted to relinquish his position as mayor for the duration of the meeting due to a self-admitted conflict of interest.
As ThoroldToday reported, developers were proposing a 34-unit apartment building a few doors down from the bulldozed frog pond on Decew Road and Richmond Street. While the development was shut down unanimously by all councillors present at the special council meeting, Mayor Ugulini decided not to participate.
“Councillor [Ken] Sentance is chairing the meeting because I declared a conflict because I live in the commenting zone,” Ugulini told council members at the start of the special meeting.
Councillors were visibly bristled by the mayor's decision.
“Why is proximity a conflict of interest?” wondered Councillor Anthony Longo.
“It can be a conflict or perceived conflict,” Ugulini answered. “I declared it based on living in the commenting zone, which is in my right.”
But many councillors felt that explanation was insufficient.
“Did you seek the advice of the integrity commissioner John Mascarin?” asked Councillor Carmen DeRose. “I got a letter here. He says that a member of council should not forsake his or her responsibility by declaring a pecuniary interest when such an interest does not really exist. I think your presence and vote was needed on this.”
Councillor Victoria Wilson explained that she also lives in the commenting zone of the proposed development.
“It does not reflect on my view or my home in any way,” she said.
When councillors tried to press the mayor further on the issue, he refused to elaborate.
“I’ve declared my conflict and the reason why and that is my right,” he said before leaving the meeting.
While the issue wasn’t mentioned again in the meeting, the matter does not seem to have gone by unnoticed. One councillor even reached out to ThoroldToday to share their concerns about Mayor Ugulini’s decision to forego his responsibilities.
Under Ugulini’s leadership, Thorold has seen unprecedented growth, becoming the eight-fastest growing municipality in Canada. This growth has gone hand-in-hand with several different development projects that have created housing while also upsetting neighbours and destroying protected habitats.
So why not participate in a meeting about an issue that is important to so many Thorold residents?
“I declared a conflict that was very clear,” Mayor Ugulini tells ThoroldToday. “I’m not going to chair a meeting when I live in the commenting zone. I think that speaks for itself.”
Furthermore, Mayor Ugulini says that he already voiced his conflict of interest at a prior public meeting.
“I declared a conflict at the public meeting and then I declared a conflict at this meeting,” he says. “At the first meeting no one said boo.”
