Banned from City Hall, Mark Brown runs for Council

Three days after police were called to remove him from City Hall, local Conservative activist Mark Brown filed papers Thursday to run for Ward One Councillor in this fall's municipal election.

Brown told SooToday News tonight that he's running to save the old white water tower on Great Northern Road, and because of Monday's incident at the Civic Centre, for which he says he's owed apologies from Mayor John Rowswell, Chief Administrative Officer Joe Fratesi, and City Solicitor Lorie Bottos.

Police were called on Monday after Brown, a member of the executive of the federal Progressive Conservative riding association, refused to leave the City Clerk's office.

Brown wanted to address City Council that night about the water tower issue.

He was denied permission to do that and then refused to leave the premises when asked, insisting that statements he said were made to him verbally be put in writing.

Served with trespass notice

Police were called and Brown says that while waiting for their arrival he was handed a written notice instructing him to stay away from the Civic Centre unless specifically invited to those premises.

The City Council procedure bylaw, passed on April 12, 1999, states that persons or delegations wishing to appear before Council must apply no later than 2 p.m. on the Tuesday preceeding the meeting.

The final decision on which names appear on the delegation list rests with the mayor, whose decision is final, the bylaw says.

The bylaw also states that "notwithstanding the failure of any person, persons or delegation to give the notice required ... Council may hear any person or persons or delegation without notice after the completion of all regular agenda items."

Brown tells us he asked for, and received, special permission to file his nomination papers on Thursday.

Demands written apologies

Brown said tonight that he won't return to City Hall until he's received written apologies from Rowswell, Fratesi and Bottos.

Asked by SooToday News what he'll do if he's elected and those apologies aren't forthcoming, Brown initially said he'd attend Council meeting "in absentia."

Asked what he meant by that, Brown changed his mind and said he'll attend City Council if the voters indicate they want him there.

"Based on the response to the localized events on the east side of the fourth floor of City Hall on Monday March 31st, I have determined that my good name is under attack," Brown says.

"Nobody gets a pass when they attempt to assault my good name. Nobody."

Andy Martens, too?

Ward One is currently represented by James Caicco (a Progressive Conservative on whose campaign Brown worked during the last provincial election) and David Orazietti (who's been nominated by local Liberals to run in the next provincial election.)

SooToday editorialist Andy Martens has also expressed an interest in running in Ward One.

Brown is a supply teacher with the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board and general manager of Mark Brown Enterprises.

Two followup news releases in 31 minutes

The following are the full texts of news releases issued by Brown at 6:23 a.m. and 6:54 a.m. today:

***************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The article written by David Helwig of SooToday.com, "Banned from City Hall, Mark Brown runs for Council" is factually accurate. Because Mr. Helwig's article might be misconstrued by the public as being supported by either the Sault Federal PC Association, or the Huron Superior Catholic District School Board I have tendered my resignation from the PC Executive, and am in the process of seeking advice as to how to proceed with my employer the HSCDSB so as to not distract students from their studies. In the short term I will not be accepting any substitute teaching assignments by the HSCDSB. Just so it is absolutely clear, neither of the aforementioned organizations have officially endorsed nor rejected my private actions as a citizen of Sault Ste. Marie with respect to the Water Tower. ALSO, The statements in Mr. Helwig's article:

"Brown wanted to address City Council that night about the water tower issue.

"He was denied permission to do that and then refused to leave the premises when asked, insisting that statements he said were made to him verbally be put in writing...

"Police were called and Brown says that while waiting for their arrival he was handed a written notice instructing him to stay away from the Civic Centre unless specifically invited to those premises."

must be quoted in their entirety, and without editing, to be factually accurate. Failure to quote these statements exactly will be a factual inaccuracy and will be subject to legal action. Thank you for your attention to these matters. If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact me personally at the numbers listed below. Sincerely, Mark Brown General Manager Mark Brown Enterprises 18 Mary Avenue Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada P6B 5V8 Direct Tel: (705) 942-6168 E-mail: [email protected]

***************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: After having received independent confirmation by police officer Lapish (Badge # 162) that I, Mark Brown, was refusing to leave because the Chief Administrative Officer, Joe Fratesi, and the City Solicitor, Lorrie Bottos, refused to have witnesses verify the statements they made to me verbally, I left the City Hall premises without being charged with anything. I was not escorted out of the building nor was I charged with any criminal offence. I left. Sincerely, Mark Brown

*****************************************************************