Ferguson gets his seat on police services board

Lloyd Ferguson is officially a temporary member of Hamilton's police service's board.

"Councillor Ferguson will sit as a temporary member of the board until further notice," read a statement from the board issued Friday afternoon.

City council voted Ferguson in as a temporary replacement for Coun. Terry Whitehead, who was suspended from the board back in May over alleged code of conduct violations. Since then, there's been much confusion as to if that appointment is lawful or not.

An Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services advisor nixed Ferguson's temporary appointment because Whitehead is still technically a member, even though he is suspended.

The board's June 17 meeting was postponed three times while the commission waited for a legal opinion from the Ontario Civilian Police Comission to see if council is operating within the terms of the provincial Police Services Act.

Hamilton council, based on a legal opinion from its counsel, maintained that the appointment was valid.

The police services board's next meeting will be Monday, August 12 at 4 p.m. at the Central Police Station.