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Forgette forced off social service board, claims abuse of power in ouster

'His most recent intimidation in a position of power has seen him wrongfully remove me from the DNSSAB board for lack of attendance, despite me having records of actual attendance to these meetings'
ForgetteKing
Deputy Mayor Sheldon Forgette and Councillor Mark King (right) will not be exchanging Christmas cards this year. Photo by Stu Campaigne

A nasty squabble has surfaced between two city councillors, after a dispute about attendance at the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board.

The question is whether deputy mayor Sheldon Forgette missed three meetings, which would disqualify him from further board activities.

Forgette emailed an "official statement" to local media outlets this afternoon regarding what he's terming, "unprecedented events that took place at the social services table last week."

His status is "under review" according to a source and he remains on the board and on the board's website as a member. 

Forgette starts by accusing fellow councillor Mark King of abusing his position as DNSSAB chair

"I am absolutely disappointed with councillor Mark King’s complete disregard for procedure and unlawful behaviour as chair of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB)," Forgette wrote. "Ever since my first year as councillor, Mark King has postured and exerted wrongful political force against me and this year, during an election year, he is making it no easier for me to do my job as a leader."

Forgette goes on to say the move is taking his focus off "my efforts from important tasks to correct Mark King’s underhanded political moves."

It's not the first time the two have clashed in such a public way, and the two are often at odds.

See: Big rift widens between councillors as accusations fly

"His most recent intimidation in a position of power has seen him wrongfully remove me from the DNSSAB board for lack of attendance, despite me having records of actual attendance to these meetings," writes Forgette. "Not only that, but Mark King has been blatantly irresponsible as chair, so much so, that he continues to pass incorrect meeting minutes from meeting to meeting, where members of the board are both absent and present according to his incorrect records.

"At this moment, he refuses to allow me to enter meetings despite the board not yet accepting my leave. More so, he refuses to perform his due diligence to fix his incorrect records of attendance. Even other members of the board question his decision, which he has never done to any other members who have actually missed meetings."

The deputy mayor states that he wants to return to his position on the board "so that we can properly oversee the organization and continue moving forward to help communities."

He's demanding that King accept phone records as proof that he teleconferenced into meetings that were missed.

"The board has always, and continues to accept teleconferencing as attendance for meetings, so it was unacceptable for Mark King to arbitrarily decide to not accept it for me."

Tensions between the two have always been strained, especially when the Taxpayer's Association, of which King is a former president, threatened to sue Forgette for libel.

See: Taxpayers' Association to withdraw lawsuit against Forgette

BayToday spoke with King this morning about the issue, before Forgette issued his statement this afternoon. King didn't want to comment publicly at the time but in an email this evening said he will be issuing a comment as chair of the board tomorrow morning.

Efforts to contact Forgette for further comment were also unsuccessful.


Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
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