Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Edward Benevides has denied claims that he was instructed to remove parking signs throughout north Hamilton, describing the suggestion as “inaccurate, misleading and unfortunate”.

Mr Benevides spoke out after municipality alderman Carlton Simmons finally broke his silence over the ‘Signgate’ affair yesterday.

Two weeks ago The Royal Gazette revealed that more than 50 newly installed pay-and-display parking signs had mysteriously vanished from north Hamilton at the end of August — but that a police investigation into the “theft” was called off after it was discovered that Deputy Mayor Donal Smith and alderman Simmons had secretly authorised their removal.

Mr Smith has since refused to explain why he wanted the signs removed, telling this newspaper that it was “printing mistruths”.

But yesterday alderman Simmons did provide an explanation for the decision. He told The Royal Gazette that he took a tour of north Hamilton with Mr Smith and councillor George Scott shortly after the signs had been erected last month, and realised that the new parking tariffs were harmful to local businesses and residents because they did not allow for all-day parking. He claimed that he later attended a Corporation Infrastructure committee meeting along with Mayor Graeme Outerbridge and Mr Smith where it was decided that the signs should be replaced. According to Mr Simmons, Mr Benevides was instructed to have the signs taken down as soon as possible, even though the committee was advised that it could take weeks to replace them.

And when Mr Benevides failed to carry out the order, Mr Smith and Mr Simmons hired a non-Corporation acquaintance to take the signs down.

“We did an assessment and realised that there wasn’t a single all-day parking zone in north Hamilton,” Mr Simmons, who owns a number of businesses in the area and also lives there, said.

“It was agreed at the committee meeting that the signs should come down because they should never have been put up in the first place.

“Although it didn’t go to the full Board, the committee had enough authority to make the decision.

“But he [Mr Benevides] doesn’t listen to us. I don’t think he feels that he has to take orders from us and the Mayor won’t punish him.”

Yesterday Mr Benevides dismissed that version of events, saying: “I have not now, nor previously, had any instruction or resolution from the Council, nor is there a recommendation from any committee to remove any traffic signage. Any information stating otherwise is inaccurate and deliberately misleading.

“I can also confirm that there have been some discussions at committee level on the new parking resolution and there will be a recommendation for debate at the October 1st meeting but nothing that is related to the removal of signage.”

And after being informed of Mr Simmons’ remarks last night, Mr Benevides was even more emphatic in his denial.

“It is unfortunate that the alderman has decided to make these statements particularly in the public domain,” he said.

Mr Benevides pointed to Infrastructure committee meeting minutes which showed that no decision was made to remove any signs — although it was agreed that parking fees in north Hamilton were to be suspended for two months so that the Corporation’s full Board could discuss new tariffs.

“After the [Infrastructure committee] meeting of August 21, I went to confirm that all the all-day parking spaces were still in place and found that a good number of the previously all-day parking signs had been mistakenly replaced with hourly pay-and-display,” he said.

“This was notified to the chairman of Infrastructure and I explained that it would have to be corrected before the August 29 and this was accomplished. This would have little impact on the public as the wardens were not going to ticket anyone in Zone 3 for on street parking violations of the pay and display.

Unfortunately the unilateral decision of the alderman to have the signs removed resulted in a good number of these all-day parking signs being removed along with some signs in Zone 2.

“The issue the public needs to understand is no single member has the authority to override a Council resolution or to direct staff in the course of their duties. Unless there is a properly called meeting — meaning proper notice to the public and Members and proper posting of the agenda and the meeting is attended by no less than a quorum which is Mayor two Alderman and two Councillors — there can be no redirection or amendment given to staff to implement.

“I stand by my statement that I have not previously nor do I have now any recommendation to council or resolution to remove any signage at any time.

Hamilton Mayor Mr Outerbridge could not be contacted last night for comment. But when initially informed of the theft two weeks ago, he appeared to support Mr Benevides’ version of events.

He said he was “deeply concerned” at news of Mr Smith and Mr Simmons’ involvement, adding that, if the reports were true, he did not condone their actions.

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