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Fallout continues from internal crisis at city hall

George Mathewson The internal crisis at city hall continued to churn last week with council considering other ways it might limit the powers of Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley.
City Hall
Sarnia City Hall

George Mathewson

The internal crisis at city hall continued to churn last week with council considering other ways it might limit the powers of Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley.

After docking Bradley three months pay on June 28 for breaching the city’s code of conduct, council began reviewing a possible deputy mayor’s position and instructed staff to rewrite the job description of Bradley’s executive assistant.

Then came word that two more senior managers are leaving city hall.

In his report to council last month, Integrity Commissioner Robert Swayze said Bradley’s personal and inappropriate attacks on senior staff had led directly to the resignation of the clerk and planning director earlier this year.

Swayze also noted Sarnia doesn’t have a deputy mayor, and suggested that council appoint an executive committee to work directly with city manager Margaret Misek-Evans.

Misek-Evans has sought her own legal advice regarding her relationship with the mayor.

Council asked for and received a report outlining how a deputy mayor might be elected or appointed from among the eight current councillors.

Sarnia’s human resources department was also directed on July 11 to rewrite the job description of Mayor Bradley’s long-time executive assistant, a move that will see her report administratively to the clerk.

In a release, acting city manager Andre Morin said the change would restore “an appropriate and customary reporting structure.”

Then, on July 13, it was revealed two more members of the senior management team are leaving.

Parks and recreation director Beth Gignac, who has had her own conflicts with the mayor, submitted her resignation. Her last day on the job is Friday.

And Chris Armstrong, manager of human resources, announced he is retiring with Sept. 30 his final day in the office.

It is also known that a “potential litigation” was discussed at a closed-door meeting last week, and that a human resources consultant is currently investigating a workplace harassment complaint at city hall.


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