High-profile interim Integrity Commissioner named for Dryden

The City of Dryden is appointing a new high-profile interim Integrity Commissioner after the resignation of previous officeholder Guy Giorno.

Kingston lawyer Tony Fleming will be city council’s integrity watchdog for the next nine months while they look for Giorno’s permanent replacement. He charges $325 an hour for his services, a hefty raise from Giorno’s $60. The position is billed hourly on a per‑commission basis, with no retainer.

Fleming is a supervising partner for Cunningham Swan Lawyers and has been the Integrity Commissioner for over 80 municipalities in his career. He holds an L.L.B. from Osgoode Hall at York University and an L.L.M. in Environmental Law from Queen’s University.

Guy Giorno resigned in January, citing draining political disputes.

“To be clear, as a municipal Integrity Commissioner, I have never allowed and will never allow the identity of a complainant or respondent to affect the fair, impartial and independent discharge of my duties,” Giorno said in his letter of resignation. “I am concerned, however, by the perception that might arise when frequently senior City officials and the entire City Council are parties to Integrity Commissioner complaints.”

“Second, I am increasingly concerned by the potential for the Code of Conduct to be weaponized in the political arena (…) I take scrupulous care not to be dragged into disputes over politics and personalities. To maintain detachment and neutrality is vital but draining. After more than eight years of doing so in Dryden, I believe it is best that someone new pick up the torch.”