SMOOTH ROCK FALLS — A Smooth Rock Falls councillor will forfeit two months of pay after council imposed penalties stemming from an integrity commissioner’s code of conduct investigation.
Council voted to sanction Coun. Denise Pelletier after the integrity commissioner found she breached the town’s code of conduct by remaining in a closed session after declaring a conflict of interest and by making uncivil comments during a council meeting.
While the integrity commissioner recommended a written reprimand and formal apology, council went a step further by adding a 60-day suspension of Pelletier’s pay.
The decision came after council reviewed reports from the town’s integrity commissioner into complaints made under the council code of conduct and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. Council deferred discussion when the findings were first presented to allow members time to review the reports before making a decision.
During debate at council’s July 20 regular council meeting, Mayor Patrick Roberts also commented on another complaint alleging Pelletier refused to sit beside him during a North Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Association (NEOMA) meeting. Although the integrity commissioner found that allegation was not substantiated, Roberts said the alleged incident reflected poorly on the municipality.
“Not only did that make Smooth Rock Falls look bad, but also myself as well as the mayor of Smooth Rock Falls. It was not very good that had happened,” Roberts said.
The commissioner also found Pelletier breached the code of conduct by making uncivil comments during a March 16, 2026 meeting when she said she was “going to hit” people smoking along Kelly Road near the hospital.
“This is not cool. You can’t be saying stuff like that,” Roberts said.
The report characterized the remark as a one-time comment made out of frustration rather than malice and said it was at the “very lowest end of the spectrum” of severity.
The integrity commissioner also found Pelletier breached the code of conduct by remaining in a closed session while council discussed a matter involving her brother.
Although she removed herself from the council table and did not participate, members with conflicts are required to leave the room during closed-session discussions.
Pelletier said she mistakenly believed the updated procedural bylaw allowed her to remain in the room, confusing the rules for open and closed meetings.
“You’re supposed to leave the room. Period. No buts about it. That’s what’s supposed to happen. Didn’t happen,” Roberts said.
The report noted Pelletier fully co-operated with the investigation and had no previous misconduct.
Roberts called for a stronger penalty than the integrity commissioner had recommended.
“I’m going to just put it out there myself. It’s going to cost us money for this, and I’m asking for no less than 60 days, and a written apology to the council,” he said.
Council ultimately approved the written reprimand, required Pelletier to issue a formal apology to council and suspended her pay for 60 days.
According to staff, Pelletier’s written apology will be attached to a future council meeting agenda.
By Marissa Lentz-McGrath, Local Journalism Initiative
Original Published on Aug 03, 2026 at 15:40
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