Hamilton councillor resigns from 3 committee positions over 'unfounded rumours' on private phone call

A Hamilton city councillorhas resigned as chair or vice-chair onthree council committeeafter a constituent posted a private conversation on YouTubewhere he seemed to implyissues with the city's building department.

Brad Clark, who represents Ward 9 (upper Stoney Creek), said Sunday that he's resigning as chair ofcouncil's audit, finance and administration committee, as chair of the development charges stakeholders subcommittee, and as vice-chair of the emergency and community services committee.

This comes after what appears to be a private conversation with former undercover police officer Paul Manning, which Manning posted on YouTubeandtweeted about.

The excerpt is 1:48 long, and it's not clear how long the whole conversation was,what it entailed or if the clip was edited. Clark didn't confirm that he was the one in the conversation with Manning, but a statement Sunday referenced a recent private conversation recorded without his knowledge and shared on social media.

"The unfounded rumours and inferences that I made on this private call were just that, unfounded," Clark said in the statement.

"My 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 conversation, someone who sounded like Clark said the building department had issued a building permit for a house in the Pleasant View survey ofDundason land not zoned for a house. As a result, "it's going to cost the city $1 million."

"That's happening all over the frickin' city," Clark appears to sayin the recording.

Clark said he has filed a request with the integrity commissioner to investigate the matter as soon as possible.

He offered his "most sincere and unequivocal apologies" to the dedicated, hardworking and honest city staff "who have my utmost respect."

Clark also formally apologized to the mayor, city council and his constituents for "this unacceptable response."

City spokesperson Matthew Grant says there was a building permit error in April 2019, but it was "identified and addressed."

"The city is aware of a recording capturing the private conversation of a council member that was posted on social media," he said in an email."The recording 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."