Integrity commissioner clears Brampton councillor in dispute over derelict property

A Brampton councillor has been cleared of any wrongdoing in an ongoing dispute he had with a city employee over a derelict property.

Following an investigation, Brampton Integrity Commissioner Muneeza Sheikh has ruled Councillor Gurpartap Singh Toor did not violate the rules of the city’s code of conduct in the dispute.

Toor had been accused by a member of the city’s property standards branch of breaching council’s code by ignoring local bylaws and trying to use his position to intimidate.

The dispute stems from an abandoned house on Queen Street owned by a numbered company of which Toor is one of many directors. The house had fallen into disrepair and had been used by drug users and as a homeless encampment.

Because the property is in a state of disrepair, enforcement officer Kevin Locke had issued several orders against the owners of the property to make the necessary repairs which have amounted to $12,000 in fines. Locke was eventually taken off the assignment.

Subsequently, Locke filed a complaint against Toor who he claimed was using his position to intimidate as well as interfering in the process to prevent him from carrying out his duties.

Toor denied using his position to influence arguing that his discourse with Locke did not go beyond typical engagement between a scrutinized property owner and a city worker.

In her report obtained by INbrampton.com, Sheikh said there was insufficient evidence to suggest that Toor’s actions were intended to intimidate or that they compromised Locke’s ability to perform his duties

As well, she said the rookie councillor’s non-compliance with bylaws is not a sufficient violation of the code of conduct rules as they don’t actively undermine respect for the city’s bylaws or the authority of the city.

Toor has since said the fines have been paid and a demolition permit has been obtained for the property.

Owners of a property at 123 Queen St. West in Brampton have been hit with dozens of fines.