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Mayor Andrew Hallikas flanked by Councillors Mike Behan and David Kircher at Fort Frances council meeting in Nov. 2022

Town issues statement over former councillor’s lawsuit

By Randy Thoms Jul 3, 2024 | 3:01 PM

The town of Fort Frances is voicing its support for its staff.

It comes in a statement that responds to legal action filed by former Councillor David Kircher.

Kircher is asking the court to overturn an Integrity Commissioner’s report that led to his resignation in May.

The report ruled Kircher made several violations of the Council Code of Conduct and recommended he be suspended and apologize for his actions.

The town says it will not comment on the proceedings but expresses disappointment in the allegations made against staff in court documents.

In a Notice of Application for Judicial Review, Kircher alleges the Integrity Commissioner’s process was flawed and that his ruling failed to take into account key evidence and lacked key evidence, in part, provided by administration staff.

“A tremendous thank you to all who serve the municipality, including those who have been the recipient of negative publicity,” reads the statement.

“To serve our community with dedication and integrity, we must first do so within, and aim to be unwavering in our efforts to be a supportive work environment for our employees.”

“I’m proud of every one of our employees. It is the role of a town employee to take their duties seriously and deal with every matter,” adds Mayor Andrew Hallikas.

The allegations in Kircher’s legal filing have not yet been proven in court.