Code of conduct breach won't lead to discipline for St. John's councillor

Alex Kennedy · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 20, 2025 5:10 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

An autarkic probe has recovered that St. John's metropolis councillor Ron Ellsworth breached the city's codification of behaviour by profiting disconnected onshore the metropolis bought from 1 of his existent estate clients — but the metropolis says it won't pb to discipline.

In June 2024, the metropolis bought a 13.8-acre vacant parcel of land at 72 Goldstone St. to assistance amended roadworthy information successful the area. Ellsworth was the realtor of the property, and received committee erstwhile the spot was purchased.

Accusations of a struggle of involvement from aggregate outer actors — including from erstwhile Premier Danny Williams — prompted an investigation, which was completed by St. John's lawyer Donna Ballard.

On Thursday, the metropolis shared findings of the study that said Ellsworth breached the codification of behaviour by speaking and voting connected the city's 2024 fund successful December 2023 — which included wealth for the Goldstone Street purchase.

However, the metropolis didn't judge that finding.

"I don't hold with that, [that] I person to presume what [council's] aboriginal decisions would be," Ellsworth told reporters Thursday.

St. John's Mayor Danny Breen said Ellsworth won't look punishment for the conflict, and each councillors and unit volition alternatively spell done grooming to amended recognize the quality of struggle of involvement legislation — which was broadened successful 2023.

He defended Ellsworth's actions erstwhile speaking to reporters, saying that the uncovering was "too distant successful its impact."

"He ne'er attended immoderate meetings, ne'er had immoderate discussions," Breen said. "I watched it. And arsenic seat of the meeting, I saw that helium acted accordingly and properly."

The study besides had 3 different large findings, each of which the metropolis accepted.

Ballard's study recovered determination was nary grounds that Ellsworth made efforts to power immoderate of the decision-making process erstwhile it came to purchasing the property. Breen called that uncovering the astir important of the four.

The study besides noted an inadvertent breach of the codification of conduct. Ellsworth did excuse himself from immoderate meetings successful which the substance was discussed, the study said, but didn't disclose that helium was excusing himself from the meetings due to the fact that of a struggle of interest.

Additionally, assembly besides failed to guarantee the wide quality of the struggle was reflected successful the minutes of each meetings. Breen said that partially falls connected him, and said assembly knows determination are administrative areas wherever it needs to improve.

Ellsworth commended the probe erstwhile speaking with reporters, saying it's important to marque definite interior practices are reviewed.

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