Questions swirl about how Fred Bennink rejoined Hamilton's police board

Hamilton city council has asked the integrity commissioner to investigate a potential breach of confidential information that took place while the police services board selection committee was determining who would be the board's new citizen-appointed member.

"It was brought to the selection committee members' attention that one of the candidates stated they knew they were not being selected while the interview process was still being conducted," Coun. Nrinder Nann, who is the committee's chair, said during a Dec. 13 city council meeting.

"Citizen members … felt strongly that in order to uphold the integrity of the committee's work, an investigation was warranted and a public report of the findings would also be in the best interest."

There are few other details from councillors as they had conversations privately before unanimously voting to request an investigation.

Police board chair Pat Mandy told CBC Hamilton Nann's comment is "probably" a reference to the board's vice chair, Fred Bennink.

He has been on the board since 2019 and is a former Ontario Progressive Conservative candidate for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas. Bennink was the citizen-appointed member in 2019 and applied to be re-appointed.

Instead, he resigned from the board on Nov. 3, only to re-join days later in one of the board's positions appointed by the province.

"When I knew that I would not be re-appointed as a municipal appointee to the board, I applied for the open provincial position because of my sincere and steadfast commitment to the wellbeing and safety of our community," Bennink said during a Nov. 23 board meeting. Bennink was also the owner and president of Zip Signs in Burlington for 35 years.

Bennink 'realized' he wouldn't be chosen

Bennink declined an interview with CBC Hamilton after the November meeting to clarify when and how he knew he wouldn't be re-appointed but answered questions via email.

Bennink wrote he "was not notified, but realized" he wouldn't be selected "or even considered" for the position, pointing to how there was a second call for applications for the position in the summer, despite the fact he applied in March.

"I was not contacted for an interview by the city and don't seem to have been in the running to be considered for re-appointment," he said. "I have no idea why the selection committee went public for a 2nd time looking for applicants."

Loren Kolar, the city's legislative coordinator, said in an email on Nov. 27 the police services board recruited people from late February to early April and a second time from mid-July to mid-August.

Lauren Vastano, a city spokesperson, said unsuccessful candidates were officially notified they weren't selected on Nov. 27, nearly a month after the successful candidate, Dr. Anjali Menezes, was chosen.

Bennink said he ended up applying for the vacant provincially-appointed position on the board at the end of September "after realizing the city was looking for someone other than myself."

Hunter Kell, press secretary for Ontario's solicitor general, said in an email there was no deadline to apply for the position and Bennink received notice of his appointment in early November 2023.

Board chair calls concerns 'odd'

Asked about the request to have the integrity commissioner investigate, Bennink said "I believe in the democratic process and support council requesting an investigation if they believe a breach occurred."

Mandy, the board's chair, said she heard Bennink say he never got an interview and never heard back about the citizen-appointed position.

She also said she found it "odd" the committee had concerns.

"I don't know why they're worried about it," she said.

What's next?

Acting city clerk Janet Pilon said city council's request for an investigation doesn't guarantee one.

The commissioner decides if they will investigate.

Pilon said if the integrity commissioner does investigate, they would gather evidence.

That can include getting documents and doing interviews.

After that, the commissioner will share the results in a public report to city council — but only if they found there has been a contravention of the code of conduct.