Updated: Springwater mayor charged with impaired driving-related offences
Mayor Don Allen
AWARE Simcoe update – Monday Sept. 3 2019: Springwater Mayor Don Allen’s case on charges of operation of a motor vehicle while impaired as well as dangerous operation of a motor vehicle has been put over to October 1. Allen, 67, was not in Collingwood court today, the date set for his first appearance.
Reports stem from Simcoe County warden’s golf tournament
by Chris Simon Barrie Advance August 6 2019
Springwater Township Mayor Don Allen has been charged in connection with an alleged impaired-driving incident that took place in late June.
Huronia West OPP confirmed Aug. 6 that Allen, 67, has been charged with operation of a motor vehicle while impaired and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. At around 10 p.m. June 26, officers were called to attend a parking lot on Wilson Drive in Springwater after an alleged impaired driver left the area.
Officers conducted patrols within the vicinity, but could not locate the vehicle.
In July, HuroniaWest OPP Const. Gilles Doiron confirmed to Simcoe.com that officers were looking into reports stemming from the 15th annual Simcoe County Warden’s Golf Tournament, held at Vespra Hills Golf Club on the night in question.
An emergency dispatch audio recording from that day, obtained by Simcoe.com, has the dispatcher describing an incident involving a “possible impaired” driver who had just left the golf club. The dispatcher reports the driver was at the tournament and employees offered to call him a taxi. He declined, got into his vehicle and drove off at a high rate of speed after “almost running over somebody” at the course, the dispatcher said.
For many years the Councillors at Clearview Township have provided alcoholic beverages to staff and selected guests at the annual Christmas party paid for by taxpayers.
When I reported this to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) and the Province of Ontario, nobody was interested enough to even acknowledge receipt of my concerns.
What are the liability issues for taxpayers if the elected officials ply the staff with alcohol and someone gets injured?
Staff, council and their selected guests can have a very festive Christmas party without alcohol (or for that matter marijuana) so WHEN will our elected officials set an example and take the dangers of drugs and alcohol out of municipal governance?