A local business man who filed a court application against a former city councillor wants the mayor’s help to clean up what he calls corruption at city hall.
Gilles Mondoux said while he’s happy with a recent appeals court decision that upheld an original ruling finding former city councillor Robert Tuchenhagen guilty of being in conflict, he doesn’t think the incident leading to that decision is isolated.
Tuchenhagen purchased a vacant building owned by the city due to tax arrears in 2008. Mondoux, who also wanted to purchase the building said that Tuhenhagen used his position on city council to get the property.
“This is totally wrong that city councillors should be able to acquire tax properties when they’re the ones that are setting our taxes and then when we lose our house to taxes they’re able to assume them, which is totally wrong,” Mondoux said Thursday afternoon.
“They have inside information. There is no reason for them to be in council if there’re there to benefit themselves. They’re there to work for us not to benefit themselves financially.”
Mondoux said Mayor Keith Hobbs campaigned on city crime issues and he should start at the top with city council. In speaking with members of council, Mondoux said he has seen support but so far nothing has been done about it.
“I would ask for an investigation into these now. I’ve done my part and I would ask (Hobbs) to do his part,” Mondoux said.
While there has been a perception that he just wanted the building, Mondoux said he filed the complaint because it was the right thing to do not because of financial gain.
“It was the principle of the matter it wasn’t a money situation.”
City manager Tim Commisso said administration is looking into the matter.
Tuchenhagen said he intends to appeal the court decision.
