Area councillor barred from city hall, in-person council meetings

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A Sarnia councillor whose behaviour has triggered complaints from city staff and the public won’t be able to attend city hall without the permission of council nor attend council meetings in person, city council has decided.

The decision was made after a third-party investigation found Coun. Bill Dennis breached the city’s policy and program for workplace harassment and violence, and applicable legislation, the city said in a news release Monday.

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Dennis specifically breached workplace harassment and discrimination provisions in his conduct toward city staff, the city says.

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley has said multiple complaints from staff, councillors and members of the public have been levied against Dennis for his behaviour that has included several council meeting-ending rages and personal attacks against members of council, staff and the public.

Council hasn’t met in person since May during the workplace investigation.

A plan is being worked on for a return to in-person meetings, Bradley said Tuesday.

“Staff have been asked to look at a security plan,” he said.

The plan will include how to safely manage any evictions from chambers, he said.

The three-paragraph release from the city says Dennis will not be allowed to go inside city hall “without the express consent of council” and attend council meetings in person “to protect the safety of city staff.” The city says Dennis will be able to enter city hall in “limited circumstances” but doesn’t say what they are.

There is no mention in the release of an end date for the measures.

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Dennis was expelled from a virtual meeting following a blow-up in November that included a profanity-laced tirade.

Dennis can still participate as a councillor by teleconference, Bradley said.

All of council has met by videoconferencing since the last in-person meeting May 6, he said.

“(Dennis is) going to be allowed to be still on Zoom,” Bradley said, adding Dennis is “not being denied any right to speak.”

Dennis did not immediately respond to voicemails left Tuesday.

In a Facebook post Monday, he called the actions taken by council “an absolute sham,” suggested his “left wing political opponents” were trying to “silence” him and said his behaviour has been “on the right side” in “a broken system.”

Dennis cast himself as a “change agent,” and appeared to quote U.S. President Donald Trump, saying “Fight, fight, fight.”

Dennis previously has apologized for his outbursts at council.

The outspoken councillor also suing the city and chief administrator Chris Carter.

Dennis’ lawsuit seeking $200,000 in damages was filed Oct. 31 and alleges Carter is trying “to render him ineffective.”

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Statements of claim and statements of defence include allegations not yet tested in court.

The city and Carter have filed notices saying they intend to file statements of defence.

Dennis also forwarded to the media a Dec. 17 letter addressed to him from city human resources manager Tammy Broer that identifies Williams HR Law LLP as the third-party investigator, and says Dennis, because of the investigation’s findings, cannot contact or engage with Carter at all, or communicate with other city staff members by email, except Broer and the city clerk.

The letter notes council may implement additional measures.

“Council chose stiffer penalties than were recommended,” Dennis said in his email, calling “this whole thing . . . a political witch-hunt.”

Not true, Bradley said.

“Council adopted exactly what the investigator recommended,” he said.

It’s normal for inquiries from council members to staff to go through a point person, he said, noting that person for Dennis cannot be Carter because of the lawsuit.

Staff will treat Dennis fairly, Bradley said.

“(Dennis is) not going to be treated any differently than any of us,” he said.

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There was no further information on Tuesday from city communications manager Steve Henschel about the cost of the investigation, or whether other investigations continue.

“At this time we’re not providing any more information,” he said.

The city also can’t comment on the Dec. 17 letter sent to Dennis because it is a private communication, Henschel said.

There are no plans to release the workplace investigation report, in order to protect complainants’ identities, Bradley said.

“There are valid reasons for protecting the complainants,” he said.

Bradley said he’s focused on continuing the city’s business.

“We keep on doing our jobs that we’re elected to do, and we keep the community moving forward,” he said.

tkula@postmedia.com

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