Councillor expelled from meeting after profanity-laced tirade

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An outspoken city councillor who recently launched a $200,000 lawsuit against the city of Sarnia and its top bureaucrat was expelled from a virtual city council meeting Tuesday by Mayor Mike Bradley following a profanity-laced tirade.

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Coun. Bill Dennis wasn’t present when the meeting resumed following his outburst in which he appeared to call other councillors “nothing but a bunch of sellouts” and Bradley a “drunk” and “cokehead.”

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Dennis’s tirade occurred when Sarnia city council was debating the city’s 2025 budget. The meeting was adjourned for about half an hour and Dennis wasn’t present when it resumed.

Dennis was expelled and under council rules must apologize before being allowed to return.

Bradley said in an interview he’s never had to expel someone from council in the 36 years he’s served as Sarnia’s mayor.

“But I cannot let this continue,” he said. “It’s just not fair to the public. It’s not fair to council.”

When asked about Dennis’s accusations, Bradley declined to respond.

“His comments are going to be reviewed and appropriate actions will be taken at the reviewing,” Bradley said.

Dennis has been the subject of numerous integrity commissioner complaints, has had his pay docked and filed a $200,000 lawsuit on Oct. 31 against the city and chief administrator Chris Carter, alleging Carter is “trying to render him ineffective.”

The allegations in Dennis’s statement of claim have not been tested in court. The city and Carter have filed notices saying they intend to file statements of defence.

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Dennis’s outburst came about midway in budget deliberations.

He was seeking clarification about the amount the city plans to spend on consultants next year when he accused Carter of not sharing the figures with him. Dennis said he asked for them from Carter on Sunday.

“You never got back to me, which has been very typical for you for the last six months,” said Dennis, who had called for a 50 per cent cut to what the city plans to spend on consultants in 2025.

Dennis then cast doubt on the accuracy of city records on consulting spending and said it’s “rich” for the city to talk about efficiency after council said no to a recent $35,000 suggestion to retain a consultant to assess Progressive Auto Sales Arena.

Amid calls from others on council for points of order, Dennis said senior staff employ consultants “because most of the senior staff isn’t from here and most don’t live here.”

That prompted more “point of order” calls, and Dennis to call a group, presumably council, “a joke” and “nothing but a bunch of sellouts.”

Bradley told Dennis his behaviour was unacceptable.

“And you being the mayor is unacceptable,” Dennis yelled.

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Coun. Adam Kilner addressed Bradley.

“You’re worship, this is inappropriate,” he said.

Dennis then said “you’re a joke,” to Kilner, a practising minister.

“You’re a joke as a pastor. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Bradley again called Dennis’s behaviour unacceptable, to which Dennis replied, “You know what, kiss my ass you drunk, you cokehead. F— off.”

More calls for order followed, Dennis accused Bradley of “cutting me down” while meeting with a city group, and responded “you’re inappropriate” when Bradley called his behaviour inappropriate.

Amid multiple people talking over each other and Bradley calling for a break, Dennis called Bradley “a disgrace to the city” and “a damn crook,” accused him of “destroy(ing) this city,” and said Bradley is using his office “to hold me down because you’re terrified I’m going to beat you in the next election.”

The meeting was then paused for about half an hour.

Council meetings late last year and early this year were brought to a close early after outbursts from Dennis caused them to derail, and makeup meetings had to be scheduled to finish city business.

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Council hasn’t met in person since May and has been meeting by teleconference instead.

Dennis has said he’s the subject of a workplace harassment complaint at city hall, linked to a dispute with Carter over Dennis’s approach to bringing citizen concerns to city staff.

Council hasn’t met in person since May and has been meeting by teleconference instead.

The cost for integrity commissioner complaints and the ongoing workplace harassment investigation at city hall are costing taxpayers, Bradley said in an interview.

After Tuesday’s meeting resumed, councillors approved an operating budget of $184.3 million for 2025.

Bradley, who has been extended strong mayor powers by the province, has 10 days to veto any council changes.

Bradley thanked the rest of council after deliberations for their respect and integrity.

“You showed how it is supposed to be done,” he said.

tkula@postmedia.com

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