Current Concerns
This page contains selected public documents and correspondence related to township governance and council matters within the last 6 months. Documents are grouped by topic and date to make them easier to review.
Where possible, summaries and context are provided on the related Issue pages. Readers are encouraged to review original source documents directly.
TVT Council and Staff Use the "D" Philosophy in Governance
Deny, Disobey, Disinformation, Deceive, Deflect, Disparage and Discourage.
This site deals with verified facts. TVT Council and Staff do not.
May 17, 2026 update and Maberly Pines Meeting
Maberly Pines
Ommission and Correction in May 17 update.
TVT CAO Mabo disclosed that her past statements regarding the developer of Maberly Pines were not correct. CAO Mabo had repeated had stated that when the Maberly Pines developer defaulted on his obligations there had been no performance guarantees other than three development lots forfeited to the township. This information was false. CAO Mabo revealed that nonperformance funds were received by the township and spent in other areas of the township as were the proceeds from the sale of the three forfeited lots. These funds should have been reserved to complete the development, primarily installation of hydro service.
Maberly Pines Residents were provided information regarding the proposed changes envisioned by TVT Staff and Council.
1. TVT stated costs to assume, pave and supply Hydro to the 55 lots in Maberly Pines is approximately $1,400,000 ($550,000 for the road and $850,000 for hydro.
2. Public questioning revealed the necessity of constructing a dome storage for sand and salt costing another $800,000.her
3. Hydro One states that they only have capacity to supply 9 or 10 lots. Increasing capacity is at additional added cost to residents.
4. The minimum cost for this development upgrade will be $2,200,000.
5. This expense is to be financed by TVT with recovery in lot development fees, approximately minimum $45,000 per lot.
6. TVT ByLaw now forbids seasonal use of these lots which has existed since the development inception in the 1980's. TVT requires 1500 sq ft 4 season homes be constructed.
7. This development is situated in fragile swamp and rock where a recent hydrogeological study concluded the aquifer is unlikely to support 55 wells and that 48 of the lots are not suitable for septic systems.
8. Many residents stated they only wanted only gravel road upgrades. TVT Public Works Manager Sean Ervin stated that this was not possible because TVT workers and equipment would not be insured. CAO Mabo validated Ervin's statement. This is not a true. TVT workers are insured for any authorized acts on TVT owned property. If CAO Mabo refuses to authorize the work , there is no insurance. Councillors have all been informed of such in this letter.
Councillor Wayne Baker was, on May 17, reported on this site to have violated the TVT Election ByLaw by soliciting reelection support on TVT property. Councillor Baker has not formally announced his candidacy in the coming election. Therefore there cannot be any infraction. What he allegedly said or did not say is irrelevant. The offending report has been removed from this website. This website strives to be fair, reporting only verified facts.
Other new information on previous updates.
Council accepted the false report of the TVT Integrity Commissioner, Tony Fleming without comment
Councillor Angela Pierman is apparently still investigating the evidence submitted in the Integrity Commissioner Report proving the gross inaccuracy of the report. I see no effort on her part to correct her misinformation on her Facebook video.
Can anything TVT Staff and Council say, propose or print be believed?
May 7, 2026 Update and New Information
Councillor Angela Pierman
A recent video was posted by TVT Councillor Angela Pierman.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EPgkPhj1Y/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Typically of TVT, no comments are tolerated to her video.
We here at TVTACCOUNTABILITY applaud Councillor Pierman for attempting to engage residents concerns.
However she completely misconstrues what is happening in the Township and what has happened prior to her getting elected.
Regardless, we give Councillor Pierman credit for trying to understand the situation. Unfortunately like the rest of the Councillors who blindly follow Staff talking points, she is grossly misinformed and though she tries hard, is not up to the task of being a critical thinking Councillor.
Specifically, Pierman takes issue with many of the topics in the “Current Issues” section of this website. Respectfully, Pierman is off base with her comments.
1. Councillor Pierman denied she has no knowledge of an Ombudsman Report. It was included in her Councillor information package that all Councillors received on Feb 5, 2025. A copy of the Ombudsman report has been posted on the website since August, 2025 in Documents> Ombudsman on this site.
2. Councillor Pierman refers to the Ontario Land Tribunal(OLT) hearing. She omits the fact that OLT hearing forced TVT to amend the ByLaw compelling residents, on a TVT owned but unassumed road, to be granted permits contrary to the ByLaw that she and Council passed in 2023. TVT spent $100,000 at the hearing trying to justify its abuse of resident’s legal rights to no avail.
3. Councillor Pierman refers to what the Ombudsman can and cannot do, supplying no documentation. Below is the link to a letter from the Ombudsman detailing limitations in Municipal affairs. confirmation with Tom Baker, Ombudsman investigator, confirms that the Ombudsman will not sanction any elected official or Staff under their supervision.
4. Councillor Pierman makes many undocumented references to publications of Ombudsman finding fault with numerous municipalities for violating “Closed” meeting regulations. The Ombudsman does a credible job in investigating "Closed " meeting investigations. The intake of material, decision making and report is made clear to the complainant.This information is irrelevant. TVT does not use the Ombudsman to deal with “ Closed “ meeting complaints.
Councillor Pierman is well aware, or should be aware, that TVT has contracted with Local Authority Services (LAS) for "Closed " meeting investigations for a fee. The Ombudsman is denied authority to investigate "Closed" meetings in TVT. LAS is a subsidiary of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario that is hired by the TVT CAO. Councillor Pierman received a copy of the LAS investigation into a “Closed “ meeting complaint against TVT. Disclosure was made in the agenda of the August 13, 2024 Committee of the Whole, page 106. TVT chose not to implement any of the changes suggested by LAS. Documentation is available on this site “Documentation>Closed meeting”. LAS is selected and paid by direction of TVT Staff. This is not a service free of bias. The Ombudsman provides this third party unbiased service for free.
5. Councillor Pierman refers viewers to view the various publications provided to the public by the Ontario Ombudman. This site has directed viewers to the multitude of TVT violations of the various guidelines. This is documented on this site
Councillor Pierman appears to firmly believe in the conduct and integrity of TVT Staff despite receiving referenced complaints of Staff misconduct most summarily dismissed by Reeve Rainer without explanation. See “Staff complaints” in documents section.
6. In her video she states opinion, folksy, heresay with no facts to support her contentions.
7. Councillor Pierman places an unreferenced chart on her website. This chart comes from TVT Staff. Source of material from Tay Valley Staff cannot be trusted for accuracy. The TVT Planner, CAO and Integrity commissioner have all posted false information to suit their agenda as referenced in this website.
Councillor PiermanAngela has published one of Mabo's original graphs used by the CAO to justify a higher tax increase. It tries to compare the largely rural Tay Valley with the largely urban centres of Carleton Place, Perth, Mississippi Mills and even Lanark Highlands. It ignores the benefits of water supply; reliable Hydro; road clearing; parks, libraries, recreational facilities; etc etc. A more accurate comparison would be to exclude the urban centres and include some rural municipalities from neighbouring counties.
8. An bizarre email exchange with TVT resident, John Lang, following a complaint of false declarations in the annual report of the TVT Integrity Commissioner, Tony Fleming, there is demonstration that she was not aware of information contained in her initial reply. There is the implication she did not write or understand sections of her email. See “Documentation>Pierman” on this site.
Reeve Rob Rainer email to unknown residents of May 5, 2026
From: Rob Rainer <rrainer.reeve@tayvalleytwp.ca>
Date: May 5, 2026 at 6:34:08 AM EDT
Subject: Re: the anonymous Tay Valley Township Accountability website and related anonymous flyer.
Good day!
As you may be aware, a website named "Tay Valley Township Accountability" was launched last year. It is self-described as "a citizen-led website sharing verified information about township council decisions, governance concerns, and ways residents can stay informed and involved."
You may have also received a related flyer in your mailbox last year (shown on the website as "Pamphlet 1") and more recently a second flyer (shown on the website as "Pamphlet 2").
The Township does not know how the persons behind these flyers obtained names and mailing addresses: the Township would never release that kind of information.
The website and flyers contain numerous and often overlapping allegations and insinuations about the Township, members of Council, staff, and even the Township's Integrity Commissioner. Ironically, while the persons behind this content demand accountability and transparency from the Township, they themselves have kept their names anonymous.
Given the volume of allegations and insinuations on the website and in the flyers, and given that there is often complex context surrounding a given issue or concern, I will not attempt to disclaim or refute anything by email. I would be happy, however, to make myself available by phone to respectfully discuss anything with you if you may wish to have a conversation. If you would like to have such a discussion, please let me know and I will follow up to schedule a phone call.
If you are on Facebook, you can also watch/listen to Councillor Angela Pierman's commentary on her dedicated Facebook page for this purpose.
In closing, I wish to thank the citizens who have contacted me or other members of Council or staff with expressions of support for the Township. We appreciate your kindness and commitment to a healthy, vibrant community.
Rob
--
Rob Rainer
Reeve
Tay Valley Township
217 Harper Road
Perth, ON K7H 3C6
(613) 314-7755 cell
Response to Reeve Rob Rainer's email of May 5, 2026
Reeve Rob Rainer disparages the individuals creating the website for being anonymous. As one of the originators of the site my name, John Lang, a TVT resident, is evident in all the published correspondence in the "Documents" section of this site. Reeve Rainer appears to have no problem with anonymous complaints made to the TVT Integrity commissioner lodged against Councillors that criticize and challenge TVT Staff.
This website started as a simple archive of my communications with TVT staff and Council. Since August of 2025 many residents have come forward with information. There are many contributors to this site donating all manner of expertise. Most of the contributors do not want be identified for fear of TVT Staff retribution which is clearly evident as exposed on this site.
Reeve Rob Rainer is incredulous that this website challenges the the integrity of the TVT Integrity Commissioner. The April, 2026 update on this site exposes the TVT Integrity Commissioner of having no integrity; from filing false reports and dismissing complaints citing remedies that never happened.
Reeve Rainer's weak response is typical of his leadership in TVT. This is published in this section under the “Dobbie Affair”.
Reeve Rainer deflects criticism of TVT Staff and Council. Reeve Rainer does not refute any of the allegations and facts presented on this site with facts. Visit “Documents>Complaints Staff”.
He prefers, as Councillor Pierman, personal contact. in that context there is no record of the conversation, allowing verification of any of the facts. Anybody can say anything.
Thank goodness, Rainer is not running for Reeve again. He has been without question, the worst Reeve in Tay Valley history who only looked after himself, his political ambitions and resurrection of a failed national political career.
It is suggested that any person engaging in a conversation inform the TVT representative that the conversation is being recorded.
Conclusion
So, to all the residents of Tay Valley: Pay attention.
There is nothing on this website that is untrue. If Pierman or Rainer or Staff think anything is untrue, I welcome a referenced criticism.
Tay Valley residents; it is time to take back control of our township that has lost its way.
April, 2026 Update and New Information
Two bylaws recently passed further reducing Staff accountability.
Live streaming is prohibited from be recorded by TVT and displayed on the TVT website for those unable to attend the live streaming sessions. TVT is the last municipality in Lanark County to allow and record Live Streaming and the only municipality to prohibit recording of meetings. TVT Staff have declared only the written minutes of meetings will be accepted despite many complaints of minute inaccuracy, incompleteness and omissions; all complaints have been denied.
Committee and Working Groups will no longer report to Council but only to the CAO. This will eliminate the Staff necessity of disparaging Committee and Working Group reports that do not support Staff position.
Council has accepted without question the 2025 Integrity Commissioner Report containing false and incorrect information. Reeve Rainer deflects and denies report misinformation. Details are here.
Councillor response to resident has had someone else write the response and the Councillor displays no knowledge of what was written.
Acceptance of a False Report
TVT Council accepted the 2025 TVT Integrity Commissioner report with the full knowledge that it contained false information despite resident information that the report contains false information.
At least three complaints were received by TVT and receipts issued for their submission. Reeve Rainer replies that TVT was only billed for one report.
One complaint involved all councillors; One complaint involved the Reeve Rainer; One complaint involved the Deputy Reeve Dobbie. All Councillors were aware of the Deputy Reeve Dobbie complaint. Reeve Rainer states that all reports were dismissed and that TVT was billed only for one report. Skilful use of the "Deny and Deflect"
Documentation here:
On this site: Documents>Dobbie Affair
Documents>2025 Integrity Commissioner report.
Reeve Rainer's reply is misleading and lacks foundation in fact. The only confusion is from Reeve Rainer trying to deflect criticism of a false report. The three complaints were all formally registered with the Town CAO and the required $150 fee paid. The one complaint against Deputy Reeve Dobbie for disrespect of the public received a $75 refund which, according to TVT complaints procedure is only to be refunded if the claim is investigated. That complaint denial generated a two page reply. The complaint against Reeve Rainer for lying to the CBC was also dismissed generating at least 7 pages of correspondance from the Integrity commissioner. There was no refund.
True Narrative of Council and Staff treatment of a TVT committee.
In 2019 Council formed a working group to in order to inform Council on the solution to TVT owned unassumed Roads. Two Councillors and Three residents were assigned the PURWG. Two Councillors would not vote in favour of for final report. Would not agree with the final report. A resident member consulted with CAO Mabo. When the resident refused to enter false information regarding the history of Road Access Agreement it was decided to exclude any discussion on that subject. Changes were made to the report. All members of the committee voted in favour of the report. CAO Mabo did not like it and wrote her own report and submitted it to council. The three resident members submitted the report agreed to by all five members. The resident members were labelled “Rogue” and disparaged continually to this day.
Refusal to correct a Report with false information.
Reeve Rainer and CAO Mabo refused to allow a willing Staff member to amend a report with false Information.
TVT Resident and former Councillor RoxAnne Darling complained to Noelle Reeve, TVT Planner that a Staff report submitted to Council was in error. TVT Planner Noelle Reeve recognized the problem and offered to correct it in an amended report. Reeve Rob Rainer and CAO Amanda Mabo refused the offer choosing to leave a false report unaltered. See documents. "Incorrect Reports"
Blueberry Creek update:
Recent article in the Kingston Whig Standard concerning the ongoing Blueberry Creek scandal. See March update for the rest of the story.
https://www.thewhig.com/feature/blueberry-creek-forest-school-tay-valley-legal-battle
Fear of Retribution
The documentation on this site illustrates the Council and Staff disregard of TVT residents. there is a sense of fear in TVT. this site has received a great many narratives but almost all do not want tone identified for fear of incurring the wrath of TVT Staff.
Discourage
TVT Council and Staff uses its verbal and burocratic abuse of residents to to stifle participation. TVT Council and Staff treat public consultation with distain. This Council has verbally abused residents repeatedly. Councillors Baker, Dobbie and Bell have all admonished the public from asking difficult respectful questions directed to Staff through council and presentations.
TVT Large Majority of Council and Staff Contempt of Public Accountability.
Examples are throughout this website
-Council refuses to execute it’s responsibilities as defined by the Ontario Municipal Act.
-Council condones and supports Staff lying to public and Council.
-Council condones Staff refusing to implement Council resolutions.
-Council condones Staff reintroducing the same proposals multiple times until the vote pleases Staff.
-Council condones Staff presentation of false documents for Council consideration.
-Council condones Staff refusing to divulge the full 2024 Staff Compensation Report.
-Council supports Staff agenda in full knowledge that a court challenge will not support Staff policy
-Council supports Staff refusing emergency aid or advice to residents on TVT owned roads.
-Council; refuses to consider any information or reports from the public opposing Staff information.
-Council supports Staff refusing to follow Ombudsman guidelines and direct advice.
-Council accepts Staff assertions that Ontario Ombudsman inaction on complaints assumes there is no validity to the complaints.
-Council approves of Staff not following "Closed Meeting" investigation recommendations.
-Council supports a Staff policy of concealment of information to public to prevent"Premature Public Panic".
- Council supports false reports from the TVT Integrity commissioner and accepts conflict of interest behaviour.
- Council accepts and endorses humiliation of residents observing Council meetings (Multiple times).
- Council accepts TVT Integrity Commissioner reports citing false information.
- Council supports harassment and bullying of residents.
- Council refuses to acknowledge TVT Procedural ByLaw violations presented by Councillors and the public, referring complaints to the Ontario Ombudsman.
-Council is fully aware that regulatory agencies will not sanction decisions of publicly elected officials in any capacity.
-Council accepts Staff amendments to TVT procedural By-Laws limiting Council oversight of Committees and working groups.
-Council accepts TVT Procedural ByLaws that intentionally alter the responsibilities of Reeve contrary to the Ontario Municipal Act
- Council refuses to accept the mandatory Strong Mayor powers, delegating them to the CAO
-Council is the only township in Lanark county refusing to record Live Streaming of Council meetings preferring to rely on the inaccuracy if written minutes subject to complaints of inaccuracy and bias.
March 2026
Freedom of Information Requests
TVT charges excessive fees under MMFOI requests
Fees quoted for MMFOIPA requests on legal fees quoted by other municipalities ranged from 0 to $15.
TVT Quotes $720.
Request for similar information quoted to Cathy Anderson in 2023 was $1597.50 for 53.25 hrs of work.
Secret Budget Increase
TVT Feb 3 Committee of the Whole Meeting
After the first occurrence of Live Streaming at a Committee of the Whole Council Meeting, streaming was stopped for Council to Adjourn for aClosed session. The reason given for the closed session was “Identifiable Individual”. An identified employee was retiring.
CAO Mabo, at the same closed meeting, submitted a plan for the replacement of the individual in the finance department with two employees and office renovations that would add another $133,000 salary and $60,000 renovation to TVT offices to the operating expenses of TVT. This expense to be over and above budget resulting in another 2% increase in the budget, bringing this budget increase to 8%. The finance department budget was already increased $300,000 for new software touted as making the department easier to run.
This action is a violation of guidelines for a “Closed Meeting”
Council and Staff often use this technique to remove the public from chambers for “Closed Meeting” and then reopen the meeting to pass an resolution not on the agenda.This is contrary to Ontario Ombudsman guidelines.
This comes 2 months after Council denied, in open meeting, budget funding for an extra Staff member.
Blueberry Creek Nature School
Eight years ago TVT issued a building permit for Blueberry Creek Nature School by mistake.
After a structure foundation was poured, TVT issued a Stop Work Order (SWO). TVT had not received clearances from the Rideau Lakes Conservation Authority for construction on a flood plain.
After an initial TVT/resident meeting following the SWO , no progress was made. TVT Staff was unresponsive to the resident requests for updates.
After the issue generated media attention, Council asked Staff for clarification.
TVT CAO Donaldson issued a written statement of the situation to Council. The statement was untrue, verified by an unconcealed audio recording made by the resident.
TVT Staff engaged the TVT Solicitor/Integrity Commissioner, Tony Fleming who delegated the investigation to a colleague to discipline the Councillor (Judy Farrell), who revealed the false statement of the TVT CAO. A shoddy investigation ensued ignoring pertinent evidence.
Eight years later, In September, 2025, TVT paid $65,000 to the resident as a settlement subject to a non disclosure agreement.
TVT has spent an estimated $500,000 in a series of frivolous, unwarranted legal actions brought against the resident only to exact revenge. The legal fees of the resident are $250,000. TVT Staff refuse to reveal the legal costs to TVT.
A critique of the TVT Integrity Commissioner report can be found here:
J'Accuse: An Open Letter to TVT Councillors regarding the ...scottreid.cahttps://scottreid.ca › Blog.
Pay Equity and Staff Compensation Clarification.
A Clarification of the Pay Equity and Staff Compensation section. The numbers are confusing. In the 2024 Budget funding for Administrative Staff Compensation was increased by $200,000. In June of 2024, in closed meeting session, (contrary to Ombudsman recommendations), the CAO submitted a report that suggested an increase of $480,000. Council was denied access to the full report. Council voted to approve the increase retroactively to Jan 1, 2024.
Councillors Kendrick and Jordan opposed. Councillors Baker, Pierman, Hallam, Thomas, Reeve Rainer and Deputy Reeve Dobbie voted in favour.
Please visit the section for other irregularities
Dobbie Affair
Deputy Reeve Fred Dobbie Incident
At the August 12, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting, Deputy Reeve Fred Dobbie made targeted, humiliating, remarks directed with hand gestures at three residents silently observing in the public gallery. This is a very clear breach of the TVT Councillor Code of Conduct.
The TVT Solicitor/Integrity Commissioner dismissed the complaints without investigation. He made inquiries to the Reeve and CAO but not to the other attendant members of the public.
The TVT Solicitor/Integrity Commissioner’s resulting letter to the complainants stated remedies that did not occur. He refused to launch a full investigation.
Protests to the TVT Solicitor/Integrity Commissioner and from the involved residents were unanswered.
The incident and alleged apologies were not reported in the meeting minutes. Reeve Rainer wrote that such incidents are not reflected in the minutes.
Council approved these incorrect meeting minutes.
Dobbie Documentation:
Request for Inquiry
Dismissal letter
Anderson's reply to TVT Integrity Commissioner
Anderson Meeting Minutes
Lang Complaint to Reeve Rainer
TVT Integrity Commissioner
TVT Integrity Commissioner, Tony Fleming, is recommended by TVT Clerk and approved by Council to be employed as its Solicitor.
His legal billings during his tenure are certainly in the millions of dollars. TVT refuses to release the amounts of billings citing lawyer/client privilege. Budget documents do not reveal such billings.
His appointment is contrary to the recommended policy of the Ontario Ombudsman.
His appointment continues despite direct communication from the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman that such employment is inappropriate.
In his tenure there have been overseeing two biased investigations convicting 2 Councillors of violating Councillor Code of Conduct. (Judy Farrell and RoxAnne Darling). The two Councillors opposed Staff initiatives. More Farrell information here. (Insert link t Reid website).
In his tenure, the TVT Commissioner has exonerated without investigation at least 6 complaints lodged against Councillors that support Staff involving failure to perform their duties as proscribed by the Ontario Municipal Act and TVT Procedural Bylaws.
Most recently, TVT Integrity Commissioner dismissed without inquiry complaints that Deputy Reeve Fred Dobbie treated residents at a Council meeting with pointed humiliating remarks. No other witnesses were contacted. The Integrity Commissioner report stated mistruths about the remedies Deputy Reeve Dobbie performed.
Staff Accountability
TVT Planner Noelle Reeve has submitted false reports to Council, not been truthful to Council and the public with regard to her report “FAQ TVT Unassumed Roads”. The year prior to her reports she received a 1% raise. The following her deception she received a 20% raise.
TVT Planner has not been truthful, provided and evasive to prospective residents of TVT concealing the necessity of signing a financially punitive Road Access Agreement for property on a TVT owned unassumed road.
TVT planner has revoked multiple building permits after demonstration of her poor research.
TVT Reeve Rob Rainer dismisses 43 complaints of Staff misconduct including lying to the public, knowingly submitting false reports, violating The Planning Act, TVT procedural bylaws, Ontario Municipal Act most without explanation.
Meeting minutes
Despite numerous written complaints that TVT meeting minutes are not accurate, Council approves them without discussion.