GANANOQUE – An integrity commissioner has found that a town councillor breached council’s Code of Conduct by liking a “disgusting” and “shocking” homophobic comment on Facebook and by undermining and being disrespectful to staff in emails and social media posts.

In response to the report by commissioner William Hunter, town council earlier this month unanimously decided to suspend Coun. Mike Kench’s pay for two months, which will cost him $2,054.42.

The penalty was double what was recommended by Hunter, who found that Kench “has shown a lack of understanding of how to conduct himself in his elected position.”

Hunter dealt with five complaints about Kench – four of them regarding his dealings with staff and the public and one of them about the homophobic comment on Facebook.

The social media comment was in response to Kench’s Facebook post about council’s September decision to prohibit road hockey in Gananoque. Kench, who is in favour of street hockey, noted that four councillors opposed it. On Facebook, he posted: “Four of your Gananoque councillors think there is just too much risk associated with kids having fun.”

Kench’s post generated a number of favourable comments, all of which he liked, including: “Sounds like four faggots f— each other in the a–”.

Two members of Gananoque council – Mayor Ted Lojko and Coun. Dennis O’Connor – are gay. Kench later removed his “like” of the offensive comment at the request of the mayor.

In his reply to Hunter as part of the integrity commissioner’s report, Kench said “there is no denying that it was careless to click on that one particular comment about the ‘faggots’.”

“I can defend that there was no definitely no intent to offend or promote offending homosexuals,” Kench wrote to the commissioner.

He added that he clicked “like” on all of the comments to his post, “giving little thought to what they actually said.”

Kench wrote Hunter that he has no issue with homosexuals, adding that he has a sibling who is gay and that he was part of a hiring committee that recently selected a gay staffer.

“Be gay or don’t be gay, it doesn’t make a difference to me,” said Kench.

Hunter, however, said Kench’s apology does not come close to meeting the seriousness of his action or undoing the effect of his “like” on Facebook.

“The councillor’s carelessness or family relationships are completely irrelevant,” Hunter said in his report. “No one who read the comment and his ‘like’ knew or cared anything about his intent or family relationship. They just read a homophobic and disgusting comment ‘liked’ by a member of council. No one knows how many people read the comment and the ‘like.’ The councillor completely failed to understand the perception he created of himself, of the reputation of council and the harm he had done to others on council.”

The other complaints about Kench dealt with his treatment of staff at town hall.

In reference to the street hockey debate, Kench circulated an email that the town’s public works manager Paul McMunn wasn’t doing his job properly and that the manager’s report on street hockey was “offensive.”

In another case, he posted on Facebook how he disagreed with the criteria in a job posting for a new parks and recreation manager. He blamed staff for the hiring requirements for the job.

In defending his criticism of staff, Kench piled on in his note to Hunter by accusing Shellee Fournier, chief administrative officer, of lying to him at a council meeting.

Kench also sparred with town staff over the fences around the tennis courts that were torn down to make way for the Gord Brown/Canada 150 outdoor rink. Kench wanted the work done by volunteers to save money; town staff said no because of labour laws and insurance concerns.

The councillor called the staffers’ position exaggeration and fear-mongering.

“Some people don’t appreciate being challenged and do not know how to handle it,” said Kench in reference to town staff.

Hunter said Kench’s comments violated the council Code of Conduct’s provisions that staff must be treated with respect and without abuse, bullying or intimidation.

“I find the councillor failed to understand his proper role as a councillor,” Hunter said in his report. “In trying to advance his points of view, he was disrespectful. Some of his comments undermined the legislated roles of staff, which is antithetical to the good governance of the municipality. In short, he failed to meet the high standards required of him.”

Council met in closed session on Nov. 4 and voted for Kench’s 60-day pay suspension effective that day. Kench will continue to sit on council during that time – he just won’t be paid. He could not be reached for comment Monday.

wlowrie@postmedia.com