Elliot Lake Councillor Chris Patrie introduced a Notice of Motion that appeared on Monday night's regular Elliot Lake City Council agenda. In the end, all members of council, other than himself, turned it down.
The motion called for a federal investigation into reports which have surfaced based on transcripts of interviews conducted last year by former Elliot Lake Lake Integrity Commissioner E4M, of Sault Ste. Marie.
In his response, Mayor Marchisella said Patrie's statements were based on his own opinion and not the facts.
"I spent three days out of my last week reviewing transcripts, reviewing archived video of our meetings, reviewing minutes. It's a huge waste of my time,” the mayor said.
"The motion and the memo are borderline slanderous towards members of council, the CAO and Mr. Elliott (William Elliott - head of ELNOS), using personal assumptions,” he continued. “I believe it's not more about the allegation itself but more about public condemnation."
Patrie's motion stated, "Whereas the transcripts elude (sic) to Councillor (Ed) Pearce and the Mayor (Dan Marchisella) having knowledge of these items (paying rent at Turner's space by ELNOS on behalf of the City)."
"Therefore be it resolved that the City have this investigated to confirm or deny and wrongdoing by the members having knowledge of these decisions,” the motion continued.
Patrie included a memo attached to his Notice of Motion which alleged “that the CAO (Daniel Gagnon) convinced ELNOS to pay the rent (for Turner's store) and further eluded (sic) that he didn't want a 'shit show' during the election (October 2018)."
In his memo, the Councillor further stated, "The fact that two members of council and not council as a whole made arrangements to hide this information with the CAO was perpetrated to keep this hidden during the election."
Marchisella said the rent money was paid to protect the reputation of Turner's store which at the time, in the third quarter of 2018, had just purchased $68,000 worth of winter apparel and Christmas stock.
"This was for getting back on track with the sales in order to catch up on payments and reducing potential liability,” the mayor added.
"Yes, this was a terrible time for this to occur being the time of elections," concluded Marchisella.
Turner's closed its Elliot Lake location in May of 2019.
Of Patrie's notice of motion, the mayor said, "This Notice of Motion is to slander myself, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Elliott and the CAO, in one shot."
The mayor turned to Patrie, "In tabling this motion with only tidbits of information, is creating a narrative that suits oneself only. It's out of context and without complete details providing misrepresentation of facts and completely misleading the public."
"That is why the former IC had this information and did not pursue it,” the mayor said.
Referring to two council meetings on Nov. 13 and 17, 2018, Marchisella said, "Councillor Patrie, you may have been able to remember that during those meetings you were devoted to shut down a rival retail store rather than to discuss protecting the store itself."
At the time, Patrie owned and continues to own the Trading Post in Elliot Lake.
Marchisella said he apologized in advance if anything he said at Monday's meeting could be construed as a breach of confidentiality. He said his intent was to recount the facts in an attempt to be transparent for community members.
The mayor was the only council member to speak to the motion.
Following those remarks, he moved to call the question on Patrie's Notice of Motion, which precluded further debate.
Minutes later, Patrie's Notice of Motion was also turned down with all council members other than himself rejecting it.
It laid to rest Patrie's drive for a federal investigation into circumstances surrounding Turner's rent payments.