We, the citizens of Grimsby Ontario Canada, have lost complete and total faith in our town council to govern Grimsby with the best interests of its citizens and the municipality in mind.

Since CAO Harry Schlange was installed in Fall 2019 by his cohorts - The Grimsby Five - Councillors Randy Vaine, John Dunstall, Kevin Ritchie, Dave Kadwell, and Dave Sharpe, personal agendas have overtaken the Town's agenda. Instead of positive, forward-thinking policies and decisions we see wave after wave of councillor-to-councillor Integrity Commissioner complaints, rude behaviour during council meetings which has no place in proper proceedings and selective following of expert legal advice to the detriment of council members and the community as a whole. The combined and coordinated actions of this group show a clear and reckless disregard for the public interest, a failure to adhere to the principles of good governance and the rule of law.

Therefore, we are respectfully requesting that the Province, namely the Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and/or the Honourable Sam Oosterhoff, MPP Niagara West and/or the Ombudsman of Ontario, Mr. Paul Dubé, to begin an immediate and independent investigation into Mr. Schlange and his activities at the Town of Grimsby in addition to the initial hiring of Harry Schlange to the CAO position.

Of particular concern with his hiring, is the historic personal relationship with one of the five cited councillors, Dave Kadwell, and his dubious track record in other municipalities prior to his becoming CAO of Grimsby. Also of concern are Mr. Schlange’s dismissal of experienced Town employees, hiring of new employees not at arm’s-length of Mr. Schlange, his role as a signing officer of the municipality and the scope of his relationships with the five named Councillors

In Grimsby, for example, it was learned April 6 that former CAO Derik Brandt, who had been removed as Town General Manager in early 2019 was still an official signing officer with the Town. This is just one example of how simple administrative tasks have gone wanting while major structural and policy issues have mushroomed up at every turn.

The concerted efforts of the CAO alongside the five Councillors are not in the public interest and represent a clear and present threat to the fundamental principles and operation of municipal government and the separation of policy-makers and administration.  This is causing significant and potentially irrevocable damage to the Town of Grimsby, a town and its residents that these individuals have pledged to serve.

 We are therefore requesting the Province address and act upon our request with immediate dispatch.