Tantramar councillors opted 7-1 to dismiss a code of conduct complaint against Councillor Barry Hicks, though they will have to wait until the next council meeting to have a formal vote on the motion.
The complaint related to remarks Hicks made at a Sept. 28 special council meeting, where Hicks referred to a code of conduct complaint as “a crock.”
While the complaint, dated Sept. 29, 2026, claimed Hicks’ comment was dismissive, Councillor Tori Weldon felt the complaint failed to meet the necessary standards to proceed.
“ I feel Councillor Hicks was just speaking his mind. We’re here to share our opinions, and that’s what he did, and it wasn’t disrespectful language, so I’m going to go with A.“
Listen to the audio below:
The ‘A’ Weldon is referring to is the first of three criteria councillors use in determining if a code of conduct complaint proceeds to an investigation: if the complaint is frivolous, vexatious or made of an improper use; if it was made within the required time; and if it falls within the scope of the code of conduct.
On Aug. 28, 2026, the provincial government gave the go-ahead for the proposed NB Power gas plant in Centre Village. Hours after that announcement, Mayor Debbie Wiggins-Colwell posted a letter to social media “on behalf of council,” which, among other things, called for the municipality to move on and expect the conditions imposed on the project to address public concerns.
The posting of the letter, particularly that it was made on behalf of council when council had no opportunity to review the statement, garnered two code of conduct complaints against the mayor, and another complaint alleged Wiggins-Colwell should have recused herself from a vote on whether the letter should have been removed.
Council dismissed the first complaint about the letter, but was stalemated at the Sept. 28 special council meeting on the other two complaints. Both were referred to the Local Governance Commission for review.
At that meeting, Hicks said the previous mayor had never recused themselves and had no complaints made against them.
“ Well, we had a mayor serve eight years before and voted his own vote on everything,” said Hicks. “(For) the code of conduct, he never left a room. So I think this is a crock.”
The most recent code of conduct complaint contends Hicks’ remarks undermined the confidence “that complaints will receive respectful and impartial consideration,” while also discouraging residents from raising concerns in the future.
While Deputy Mayor Josh Goguen opted for a different section for dismissal, he agreed with Weldon’s sentiments.
“ While I understand the complaint . . . I feel that at this point it was just kind of an off-the-cuff comment and I would vote to dismiss under section C.”
The only councillor wishing to proceed was Councillor Kristen LeBlanc. As councillors are not allowed to discuss merit at this stage, she offered no reasoning for wanting to proceed.
Per the recently-reviewed bylaw, council must allow the complainant and Hicks to provide written submissions before a formal vote at the next council meeting.
A copy of the complaint is on page 28 of the council package for the Oct. 13, 2026 regular council meeting.
