Township Turns Advocacy Into Self-Interest

Dear Council,

This letter is in response to a recent resolution regarding Strong Mayor Powers, circulated to all Ontario municipalities under the direction of Rideau Lakes Councillor Paula Banks, founder and principal contact of the group “V.O.I.C.E.” Council for the Township of Faraday recently passed and forwarded a resolution to Ms. Banks, which she subsequently posted to her social media. 

I wish to bring to your urgent attention a documented pattern of conduct by Councillor Banks during her term that has raised significant public concern regarding transparency and accountability within municipal governance. These actions include:

• Leading efforts to illegally suppress an Integrity Commissioner (IC) report.
• Playing a direct role in concealing sexual misconduct within Council.
• Voting to reimburse legal fees for a council member found in clear violation of the Code of Conduct.
• Implementing measures that have severely restricted public delegations and correspondence, especially those critical of Council.
• Suppressing legitimate public feedback and repeatedly disseminating misinformation online.
• Voting to terminate Integrity Commissioner contracts immediately after findings were made against her.
• Introducing and supporting motions to increase her own compensation and expand access to additional remuneration.
• Acting in ways that could expose councils to reputational harm through association with her leadership or initiatives.

This track record is further supported by the fact that 17 Integrity Commissioner complaints have been filed during her term, a significant number of which she has been the direct subject of.

During the meeting where this resolution was passed, Councillor Banks took the extraordinary step of directing herself to summarize and provide commentary on these 17 IC complaints. This action is deeply problematic, as it grants the primary subject of these investigations an inappropriate platform to present a self-serving narrative, compromising the impartiality of any such "summary."

In the same meeting, Councillor Banks introduced a motion to overturn a Strong Mayor veto, which included language suggesting that councillors who did not support her motion might be in breach of their legal obligations. This attempt at intimidation was ultimately rejected by Council.

The V.O.I.C.E. coalition letter, with Councillor Banks as founder, promotes "collaborative governance" under the banner of Vocal Ontario Integrity Coalition for Electeds. This stands in clear contradiction to her documented record of undermining integrity and collaboration. The letter also invites municipalities to consider providing financial support for a potential Charter challenge, with Ms. Banks serving as the sole contact for collecting resolutions and funds—a role consistent with her history of seeking financial benefit and control in such matters.

The full meeting and motions can be viewed on the Township website here: https://pub-rideaulakes.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=0b2f5cb0-1d0...

While I do not personally support Strong Mayor Powers, the cumulative and egregious nature of these actions illustrates why some may view such powers as necessary in certain contexts to maintain effective governance. I urge you to review the meeting in question and reconsider Councillor Banks’ suitability to lead any inter-municipal advocacy efforts, as her record stands in direct conflict with the principles of integrity and public trust.

In light of this information, I respectfully recommend the following to safeguard your council's integrity and public standing:

• Avoid passing any financial resolutions, motions, or approvals that include the name Paula Banks.
• Refrain from forwarding strategic, legal, or sensitive municipal information to Ms. Banks.
• Consider a different lead or organization if you wish to pursue similar advocacy efforts, and avoid engaging with V.O.I.C.E. entirely.
• Ensure all council members and staff are aware of these cautions before responding to any contact from V.O.I.C.E.

This advisory is intended to ensure advocacy efforts are conducted under leadership that meets the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and respect for the public trust.

Full documentation of these concerns can be provided directly upon request. I respectfully request that this letter be included on the agenda for the next available Regular Council Meeting for discussion and consideration.

Sincerely,

Kelley Denham