City manager Ann Mitchell is seen at the Aug. 21, 2023 Medicine Hat city council meeting. (Screengrab From Video)

By Regan Tate

External law firm to probe formal complaint between city council members

Sep 6, 2023 | 4:41 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat city council has approved the hiring of an Edmonton-based law firm to investigate a formal complaint about a council member made recently by another member of council.

Under the council code of conduct bylaw, respectful interactions with members, staff, the public and others are required. If another member feels this conduct has been violated, they can file a formal complaint in writing.

Investigations can be conducted internally unless the member who is the subject of the complaint or investigation sits on the city’s administrative and legislative review committee. At Tuesday’s meeting, Coun. Andy McGrogran brought forward a motion that council retain Kingsgate Legal to act as an external investigator into this code of conduct dispute.

The money for the investigation is coming out of council’s contingency fund.

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The motion was passed unanimously.

CHAT News reached out to the mayor’s office about the investigation and have been told the details about who the investigation is regarding or the complaint itself are being kept confidential at this time.

A tense discussion occurred during the regular council meeting on Aug. 21

During the meeting, Mayor Linnsie Clark pressed city manager Ann Mitchell about a recent corporate reorganization Clark felt was done without following proper processes.

Mitchell was upset with the line of questioning

“I think this is highly inappropriate and I’d like to stop this discussion right now,” she said.

Clark indicated she felt her role wasn’t respected as an elected official.

Coun. Shila Sharps indicated the discussion was starting to be an inquisition versus council asking administration questions.

“She did come to us, she gave us the, ‘Hey this is what I’m doing what do you guys think?’ and we’re like ‘yeah go for it,'” said Sharps. “So you know what, to me that was done. We shouldn’t have to discount each other’s credibility when we’re around this table and the question was asked, we answered it. You might not have agreed, it does not change the answer.”

The next city council meeting is Sept. 18.