Mark B. honours City Hall with his presence

Mark Brown, advised last month that he'll be charged with trespassing if he returns to the Civic Center without permission, showed up in the City Council chambers Monday night, toting a video camera.

SooToday.com first spotted the Ward 1 Council candidate in an anteroom adjoining the Council chambers, where unseen by councillors, he was sitting and appeared to be operating his camera.

When we attempted to photograph him there, he shielded his face from view using his camera, at one point using the viewfinder to peer back to see whether we were still there.

Photo: Avoiding our camera

Shortly after this, Brown entered the Council chambers, further trying to shield himself from SooToday.com using his camera and a file folder. From his seat, he continued to videotape the proceedings.

Photo: Settling into the Council chambers

Councillors and City staff immediately recognized Brown but chose not to make a scene.

Brown attended in hopes that Council would agree to consider his proposal to save the white water tower on Great Northern Road.

During a break in the meeting, he approached Assistant City Clerk Malcolm White, who advised him that there was no chance that the issue would be discussed.

Brown left shortly after being so advised.

He handed SooToday News a paper citing Ontario's Municipal Act as requiring that Council meetings be open to the public.

Section 241 of the same Act allows the Mayor or other person presiding over a Council meeting to expel any person whose conduct is judged to be improper.

Chief Administrative Officer Joe Fratesi said that Brown's conduct was acceptable on Monday and he's welcome to return to other Council meetings so long as he behaves in similar fashion.

For background on this story, please click here.

To see the trespass notice that Brown received on March 31, please click here.