Manny Baron is relieved and township officials are reaffirming their confidence in the municipality’s CAO after a breach of trust charge against Baron was withdrawn on Sept. 6.
“I have no words that can express how stressful this has been and how happy I am with the result,” said Baron in a statement released by Millars Law, which represented him in the case.
Baron was charged in March with breach of trust by a public officer following what Lambton OPP officials called a “lengthy” police investigation.
The charge relates to Baron’s leasing of property he owned to the Town of Petrolia – and a resulting conflict of interest – while he was CAO of the town.
Noting his client is “relieved and thrilled” the charge was withdrawn, Baron’s lawyer Phillip Millar called the entire case “a witch hunt arising from a few political haters that Mr. Baron ran afoul of” while serving as CAO of Petrolia.
“The justice system was used to try to find something that wasn’t there … and today Mr. Baron, an outstanding public servant, can hold his head high knowing his name is cleared,” declared Millar in the Sept. 7 press release.
Baron was placed on administrative leave by Petrolia in October after a local Newspaper, The Independent, reported he was charging the town rent, and utilities in lieu of rent, on facilities he owns through a numbered company.
Baron did not disclose to the town his ownership of the properties.
The town appointed investigator John Fleming to look into the deal for the properties, which were used by the town for a youth/seniors centre and storage area.
Baron resigned on Nov. 14 after Fleming’s report was presented to Petrolia council. The report was not made public.
Baron was hired as CAO of Mapleton Township in January.
In an interview with the Advertiser shortly after he was hired, Baron conceded his ownership of the Petrolia properties constituted a conflict, but he said his intent was to contribute to the community, not profit from the transaction.
In his Sept. 7 statement Baron thanked Mayor Neil Driscoll and Mapleton councillors for hiring him despite his controversial exit from Petrolia.
“I will never forget what [they] did by believing in me and trusting that I would clear my name,” stated Baron.
In a statement, Driscoll noted Mapleton officials are celebrating the News of the charge being withdrawn.
“Council and I knew early on that we were going to reap the benefits of Petrolia’s loss,” Driscoll stated.
“He came to us with vast experience, excellent references and a great knowledge of how we could prepare Mapleton for the future.”
Driscoll added the township has had “a very productive nine months” with Baron.
According to the Millars Law release, Baron made a $1,000 donation to the Petrolia Community Foundation “as a good faith gesture to show that he took responsibility for an administrative error on his part but never breached the trust of the people of Petrolia who he loved serving.”
Baron also thanked his lawyer and expressed concern for those charged and unable to afford hiring “a great lawyer” to defend themselves.
Interestingly, a large portion of the Millars Law press release took aim at media outlets that have covered the case.
“We now live in a Google world, where one News story can stain you for the rest of your life, even if your name is cleared,” stated Millar.
“Every citizen must deal with this harsh fact and those who cover the News have an obligation to report on the matters accurately when they come to a positive conclusion for an accused.”
The statement concluded by noting Baron plans to enjoy “some quiet family time” with his wife and children, who wish to “put this chapter of their lives behind them.”
