Hamilton councillor Brad Clark resigns from committees after ‘private conversation’ with resident shared to social media

Ward 9 Coun. Brad Clark says he has resigned from three committees and apologized to city staff after a private conversation" with a constituent was posted to social media.

In a statement Sunday afternoon, Clark said the conversation was recorded without my knowledge" and shared to social media.

The unfounded rumours and inferences that I made on this private call were just that, unfounded," stated Clark.

The nature of the unfounded rumours and inferences is unclear - Clark provided no further details about the conversation in the statement.

But in a recording posted to YouTube by user Paul Manning last week, Clark can allegedly be heard discussing a permit blunder from April 2019.

As reported by the Spectator, the city issued the permit to the owner of 10 Newman Rd. for a one-storey home despite zoning that didn't allow for the development. After taking a closer look, the city rescinded the permit - but not before construction was well underway - and reached a settlement with the owner.

The Spectator reached out to Clark to confirm if it was him in the call but he did not respond.

In the recording - which was shared widely on social media Sunday - Clark goes on to allege that Ward 13 Coun. Arlene VanderBeek was flipping out" about the situation and that it was going to cost the city at least $1 million.

Clark then said the same kind of situations are happening all over the freaking city," while also mentioning an investigation by Spectator reporter Steve Buist.

In an email to the Spectator Sunday night, VanderBeek said she was happy with the way the Ward 13 issue was handled.

Buist said he is unaware of the issue being referenced by Clark.

Clark also asked: So what's going on in the building department? And how come building permits are being issued when they shouldn't be issued? And who's paying who to get those building permits issued?"

Manning then asked Clark if thinks there is some kind of corruption" in the building department, to which Clark again mentions Buist and says it is just beginning to scratch the surface."

But in his statement, Clark said his frustration with the situation in question and my response was completely out of character and I should not have been discussing such baseless rumours with anyone."

In the statement, Clark offered his apologies to city staff as well as Mayor Fred Eisenberger, the rest of council and his constituents for the unacceptable response."

Clark has also informed the mayor of his immediate resignation from his roles as chair of the audit and finance committee, vice-chair of the emergency and community services committee and chair of the development charge stakeholders subcommittee.

City communications director Matthew Grant told the Spectator that the city is aware of a recording on social media that included concerns related to the fairness of the building permit process that have since been described as unfounded and baseless and by the person that made them."

The city values openness and transparency and will continue to strive to provide effective, efficient and fair service to the community," said Grant.

Clark said he has filed a request with the integrity commissioner (IC) to investigate the situation as soon as possible" with that process started, he could no longer discuss the matter."

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com