Resident Wants City Council To Censure Mayor

A Saint John man wants city council to censure Mayor Don Darling for allegedly violating council’s code of conduct.

In a letter to council, Douglas James said the mayor’s “recent deplorable and unacceptable conduct on social media” violated the Code of Conduct for Elected Representatives.

It involves a July 30 Facebook post in which Darling shared a letter council received from the Saint John Citizens Coalition asking for a review of his GrowSJ initiative.

James alleged the mayor “sparked an inflammatory exchange on his ‘personal’ Facebook page.”

“His preamble served to incite his social media power base against the Saint John Citizens Coalition and the signee of the letter, Mr. Randall Goodwin,” wrote James.

The letter goes on to list several examples of comments by social media users which James described as “scurrilous” and “hateful.”

“Threats of physical violence are repugnant enough, but when the Mayor allows them to be communicated in a social media environment over which he has full control, one must question not only his personal values, but also his judgement,” said James.

He said Darling is responsible for ensuring any exchanges on his page adhere to the “standards of common decency” and the code.

When reached by email Sunday, Darling said he will comment on the letter after Monday’s council meeting.

In a separate letter, James asks that Coun. David Merrithew be reprimanded by council for a comment he is alleged to have made on the post.

“This guy and his small group of cronies are not creditable. They say they will run in the next election. God forbid. Just key board courage,” read a comment posted by a social media user named David Merrithew.

City Manager Reviews GrowSJ Initiative

Meanwhile, Saint John’s city manager has found there was no misuse of public funds related to the mayor’s GrowSJ initiative.

The Saint John Citizens Coalition asked for a review of the initiative “to ensure that all activities related to the entity are legitimate and acceptable under the Code of Conduct for Elected Representatives.”

In a report to council, John Collin said the Grow SJ webpage is not administered by the city and the mayor has said he owns and paid for the website on his own.

Collin said Darling’s public engagement budget sessions were organized by the mayor’s office and the meeting spaces were donated.

“In conclusion, it is staff’s opinion that there has not been a misuse of public funds and that no further action is recommended,” wrote Collin.

The coalition also questioned if the mayor had permission to use the city’s Explorer logo on his webpage.

Collin said the Explorer brand and logo were developed and trademarked in 2003 during the “True Growth” initiative led by Enterprise Saint John — now called Economic Development Greater Saint John.

He said the brand and logo have been used “in varying degrees” by the five municipalities of Greater Saint John.

“The Mayor has since removed the logo from the website and replaced it,” Collin wrote. “It is staff’s view that no further action on this matter is required.”