Hamilton's city manager says in hindsight, employees should probably have gotten written permission to use a city van before they drove it to Washington, D.C. for a trip that included participating in the Women's March.

But Chris Murray says he's talked to everyone involved, and considers the matter closed.

A group of seven drove to Washington this month. Among them was Joe-Anne Priel, the city's general manager of emergency and community services, who took responsibility in an email to councillors this week.

'I am satisfied that this matter has been appropriately addressed.' - Chris Murray, city manager

During the trip, the group visited two community hubs similar to those being implemented in Hamilton. They got "ideas they are keen to implement," the city said, by visiting Mary's Centre health hub and the Georgia Avenue Family Support Collaborative. They didn't claim expenses.

The trip also included participating in the Women's March.

Coun. Donna Skelly of Ward 7 said earlier this week that she questioned whether taking the van was a good idea on a trip that was as much marching as working.

Skelly said she doesn't mind if staffers march "on their own time and their own dime," but "this blurred the lines" and "I'm concerned about the optics."

Murray said in an emailed statement that he and Priel discussed the matter.

"We would both agree that, hindsight being what it is, she should have asked for written permission from me to use the city vehicle," he said.

"That being said, given the rationale that Joe-Anne has provided me and the fact that there were no expenses claimed for this trip, and relevant information was brought back to inform our community hub strategy, and further based on consultation with human resources, I am satisfied that this matter has been appropriately addressed."

Priel, one of the city's most senior bureaucrats, is "highly respected" at city hall, Skelly said.

Coun. Sam Merulla of Ward 4 called all the employees who went "incredibly astute, professional employees that are probably in the 1 per cent of the country as it pertains to the department they work for."

In the email to councillors, Priel said she's not one to take advantage.

"I have never in my 46-year career as a public servant taken advantage of the taxpayer and certainly would not have taken a city vehicle on this trip if I was not doing legitimate City of Hamilton business."

As general manager of community and emergency services, she handles issues such as social assistance and funding for homelessness programs.

The march took place in Washington the day after Donald Trump's inauguration and an estimated 450,000 to 500,000 attended. There were also marches in many other cities, including Hamilton and Toronto.