Politics

Council Passes Motion to Investigate Khan Accusations

By Ryan McGreal
Published December 10, 2009

At last night's meeting, Council addressed a letter they recently received from Abdul Khan that levied a series of serious accusations against senior city staff for misleading council and misusing public funds.

Mr. Khan was director of water and wastewater treatment from 2005 until he was terminated this past summer as part of a restructuring. At issue in his letter to council was Mr. Khan's charge that senior city staff had: misled Council over the real cost to upgrade the Woodward Wastewater Treatment plant; covered up the risk of lead exposure in Lynden's drinking water; and diverted money from the sale of scrap metal to staff entertainment.

At last night's Council meeting, Councillor Brad Clark moved, and Councillor Russ Powers seconded, a motion to direct the city solicitor to determine how best to address the Human Resources issues related to the charges, to investigate the wastewater upgrade cost assessment, to forward a copy of Mr. Khan's letter to the police to investigate the alleged misappropriation, and to launch internal and external audits to determine what financial implications, if any, come from the allegations.

Council approved the motion unanimously.

Ryan McGreal, the editor of Raise the Hammer, lives in Hamilton with his family and works as a programmer, writer and consultant. Ryan volunteers with Hamilton Light Rail, a citizen group dedicated to bringing light rail transit to Hamilton. Ryan wrote a city affairs column in Hamilton Magazine, and several of his articles have been published in the Hamilton Spectator. His articles have also been published in The Walrus, HuffPost and Behind the Numbers. He maintains a personal website, has been known to share passing thoughts on Twitter and Facebook, and posts the occasional cat photo on Instagram.

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[ - ]

By Captain Kirk (anonymous) | Posted December 10, 2009 at 21:10:46

KHANNNNNNN!!!!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRnSnfiUI54

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[ - ]

By ceti alpha (anonymous) | Posted December 10, 2009 at 22:27:43

From hell's heart, I stab at thee. For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee. To the last, I will grapple with thee.
-- Melville

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By Clarity (anonymous) | Posted December 10, 2009 at 22:50:30

Brad Clarke? Was he not found guilty of a Integrity commisioner investigation!! Gotta love those without integrity asking for integrity!!

Clarity

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By markwhittle (registered) - website | Posted December 10, 2009 at 22:59:50

In a word, "SludgeGate". Glenn De Caire has his work cut out for him, right out of the box. So does the Integrity Commissioner, right out of his box too, with "HarrasementGate".

Next up, the outside forensic auditors sniffing around "ScrapGate", the money men have arrived. Can't fool those guys, thats for sure. Surreal.

Heads should roll, but won't. Now that's a shame, any way you look at it.

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By Fury (anonymous) | Posted December 11, 2009 at 08:54:15

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By frank (registered) | Posted December 11, 2009 at 10:40:20

As a member of PEO it's his professional duty to make sure that his concerns are at least brought to light. My professional organization requires the same. That's why we have to study professional ethics to get in.

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By UrbanRenaissance (registered) | Posted December 11, 2009 at 11:05:24

Thank you Capt. Kirk and Ceti Alpha, those hilariously nerdy comments brightened my morning.

As a member of the PEO I certainly hope that fury's comment is inaccurate but if its not then you better believe that the PEO's Discipline Committee will crack down on Mr Khan to repair the damage to the profession's image. Conversely, if these allegations pan out one would hope that Mr. Khan be recognized for his integrity in upholding our Code of Conduct.

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By Jabberwocky (anonymous) | Posted December 13, 2009 at 13:49:53

With Apologies to Dr. Seuss, I think Mr. Kwan deserves a poem inspired by his heroic acts. If I’m wrong about him, I will be the first to apologize. (Note: all characters are fictitious. Any resemblance to real life people is strictly coincidental.)

You’re A Mean One, Mr. Kwan



You’re a mean one, Mr. Kwan
You really are a heel
You’re as cuddly as our sludge,
You’re as charming as our steel,
Mr. Kwan

You’re bad karma
For our town.

You’re a monster, Mr. Kwan
Your heart is full of waste
Your brain is water-logged
Your buds have lost their taste,
Mr. Kwan

I would smear you with
thirty-nine-and-a-half feet of Woodward paste.

You’re a vile one, Mr. Kwan.
You have daggers in your smile
You have all the icky slickness
Of putrid, smelly bile.
Mr. Kwan.

Given the choice of who to be with
I’d pick the putrid, smelly bile.

You’re a foul one, Mr. Kwan.
You’re ready to apologize
With veneer that’s so sublime
While you bow and demonize,
Spewing out self-serving slime.
Mr. Kwan.

The three words that best describe you,
Are whine, whine, whine.

You’re a rotter, Mr. Kwan.
You’re the king of cheapest shots.
Your heart’s a biosolid
Stinky, mouldy and quite squalid,
Mr. Kwan.

Your soul is a wet-well chock-filled
With every ugly solid
Deserving to be flushed.

You nauseate me, Mr. Kwan.
With a sickening mish and mash.
You’re a seething ex-employee
Out to get your pound of flesh
Mr. Kwan.

You’re a three decker stool sandwich.
With lead sauce from Lyndentown.

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