Sarnia council has taken the unprecedented step to remove Mayor Mike Bradley from city hall, temporarily.
In a 7-1 recorded vote on Monday, council decided to move the mayors office to the former director of transit's office, at 1169 Michener Rd., while an appropriate location is prepared at city hall.
The action was taken in response to a workplace investigation report that found the mayor bullied and harassed four senior staff members, including the city manager. An integrity commissioner's report also found that Bradley had violated City Hall's workplace code of conduct.
Bradley was absent from Monday night's meeting, citing a conflict of interest.
"I tried to work with Mike before that integrity commissioner investigation to try and make that go as smoothly as possible for him, because I'm committed to the guy and have been forever and still am," said Councillor Mike Kelch.
In an address to the public, Kelch said whether the mayor agrees with the report 100% or not, he needs to accept it, accept responsibility and work with council to move forward.
"If he can't do that, what he's doing is forcing council to take measures that it does not want to take. So, that's my plea to you supporters of Mike. And why not support Mike. He's the best mayor this city's ever had. I'm begging you, talk to Mike, get him on board, we can fix this a lot faster with him then without him," he said.
Council's decision to move the mayors office didn't come without controversy. More than 100 people packed into the gallery to witness councils decision, some heckling council and one holding a sign of support throughout the meeting.
Chair Cindy Scholten repeatedly asked for order in council chambers and some members of the public had to be reminded several times to be respectful.
Sarnia police officers were visibly present in the later part of the meeting and were asked to escort one unruly man from the building.
"The well-being of this municipality has been violated by the actions of the mayor," said Councillor Anne-Marie Gillis.
"We are duty and legally bound to maintain the health and safety of the workers at city hall from the mayor who has been found guilty of workplace harassment in this very building," she said. "In order to protect all city staff, who work at city hall, the one person who has been found guilty of the occupational health and safety act by egregiously bullying and harassing those around him at city hall, has no choice but to be removed from city hall. I believe that if we move through these next steps in the road to compliance, we will be able to overcome the culture of fear within these walls."
Former Sarnia Mayor Andy Brandt thinks council pushed the issue too far, too long and too hard.
"I disagree with moving the mayor out of city hall. I think to function, in his responsible office, he should have an opportunity to continue to work at city hall," said Brandt.
Council also approved recommendations for coaching and sensitivity training on harassment, effective management techniques, and anger management for Bradley, with the extension to include all of council.
An amendment to the Code of Conduct to further protect staff from comments made to the media by council members was passed and Bradley’s right, granted in 1992, to attend department head meetings, has been revoked.
Council previously directed staff to cancel the mayor’s after-hours access card to city hall and all his communication with staff must now go through council intermediary Anne-Marie Gillis.
