The city has since allowed the signs to be placed on lawns pending an ongoing review of the sign bylaw.

However, Sheikh said the legality of the signs are a separate matter from council code of conduct violations and not within the integrity commissioner’s mandate.

Rule 13 of the code requires members of council to encourage respect for the city and its bylaws and must not denigrate a bylaw in responding to a citizen.

“To be clear, Councillor Williams (despite providing her personal assessment on the legality of the sign campaign, which was not vetted by anyone at the City) was actively encouraging Brampton residents to use her signs without knowing what (if anything) the City's Bylaw Enforcement office would say about her campaign. This is conduct that is unbecoming of a member of Council,” wrote Sheikh in her ruling, adding Williams' good intentions didn't outweigh the rules governing elected members of council.

“I do find that Councillor Williams undermined public confidence in the City and its Bylaws through her public commentary during the sign campaign,” Sheikh said.

Rule 10 focuses on media communications and requires members of council to accurately communicate council's decisions even when disagreeing with majority decision.

In addition to her communications with residents, Sheikh found that Williams issued a media release on Oct. 30, claiming two fellow councillors had issued the complaint against her when it was actually a resident. As such, she found Williams in breach of Rule 10.

“Councillor Williams provided commentary to Brampton Guardian, stating that two Councillors had filed complaints against her, when that was wholly untrue," Sheikh wrote. “In failing to abide by my clear instructions on preserving confidentiality under the Municipal Act, 2001, Councillor Williams misinformed the public around complaints as it related to the sign campaign.”

Williams said she believes the media release she issued was accurate.

“The media release was both truthful and accurate in as much councillors had complained to the integrity commissioner about the signs, even if those complaints were never formally launched,” wrote Williams.

Relating to Rule 18, in addition to breaching confidentiality, the integrity commissioner also found Williams in violation for failing to adhere to council policies and procedures by encouraging residents to disregard city bylaws and/or council rulings, adding she was also in violation of Rule 3 for the same reasons.

“For the reasons mentioned under Rule No. 18, I find that Councillor Williams breached Rule No. 3 of the Code of Conduct in continuing to communicate with the public regarding the Complaint and matters that came to her knowledge thereof despite my clear direction to the contrary,” added Sheikh’s report.