Stratford resident banned from city property and contacting staff
A couple of Stratford residents claim they have been banned from attending any city owned properties or from speaking with any city staff for three months.
Mike Sullivan said he received a letter from City of Stratford lawyers on April 4, banning him from city owned buildings and from communicating with city staff for three months ending on July. He said the letter also states that he can face legal proceedings against him or police contacted in certain circumstances.
"I can't participate. The ban is from all city premises and for any communication with any city staff. So I can't go to the library," Sullivan said.
According to the letter Sullivan received, the city received numerous complaints and incident reports under its Respectful Workplace Policy, related to statements Sullivan made at a council meeting on February 26.
"We weren't aggressive or angry or any of those kinds of things. We were just normal for us anyway, criticism of city hall," Sullivan said.
The letter claims complaints are not limited to Sullivan’s actions just that day. It said he made numerous derogatory and misleading comments against several members of senior administrative staff. Adding the commentary “was unreasonable, inappropriate and harassing and known, or ought reasonably to have been known as unwelcome.”
The letter went on to say the city “does not tolerate any behaviour that is hostile, offensive, humiliating, derogatory, defamatory, vexatious and denies individuals their dignity and respect in the workplace.”
Sullivan said he has tried to ask what comments were a problem but has not received any information.
"We immediately asked, several people immediately asked for details. I filed an FOI because I knew they weren't going to give me details. The others just asked in writing for details. And there's been absolutely nothing," Sullivan said.
Barb Shaughnessy, who presented as a delegate at the meeting, was also banned. Jane Marie Mitchell, was given a written warning by Stratford’s lawyer.
Sullivan said there was also a man who got in a shouting argument after the meeting and was banned.
During the meeting in February, Sullivan asked council to act sooner on recommendations of the closed meetings investigator, and accused the mayor of having a pecuniary interest in the Bradshaw Lofts. The mayor said he does not, and Sullivan said he apologized for being wrong.
Shaughnessy started naming staff and their credentials for the job. Shaughnessy was asked not to do that. Shaugnessy apologized for talking about staff.
Stratford Chief Administrative Officer Joan Thomson was not available for an interview but said in an email:
"As a result of a few recent instances of disrespectful behaviour in the council chambers, a review took place and certain actions implemented. Again, it is our responsibility and our duty to take appropriate action when someone violates our Respectful Workplace Policy. That action could be as simple as a warning, or as firm as a temporary suspension from city facilities, depending on the circumstances."
Sullivan said he was given 20 days to appeal, and tried to do so, but hasn't heard anything back. He's engaged lawyer David Donnelly to take legal action against the city.
Donnelly wrote to the city saying the proposed ban is “unconstitutional and illegal.”
"Assuming that there is no appeal or that the appeal is unsuccessful, we go to court and either ask for a quashing of Stratford's decision or an injunction against it, and let Stratford argue," Sullivan said.
Sullivan said if the appeal process is not successful, he intends to have his lawyer ask a court to order the city to rescind the action.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Infant dies in ATV crash, N.S. RCMP says alcohol may be a factor
An infant has died and three others, including another child, were taken to hospital following an ATV crash in Forties, N.S., on Monday.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.
Charges against world's top golfer Scottie Scheffler dropped after arrest outside PGA Championship
Criminal charges against Scottie Scheffler have been dismissed, ending a legal saga that began with images of the world’s top male golfer being arrested and handcuffed in Louisville during the PGA Championship.
'Scandals and secrets': On board the world's most exclusive private residential ship
It’s a floating city exclusively home to the 1 per cent, a playground for multimillionaires and billionaires that circumnavigates the world's oceans.
How Trump's hush money trial verdict could affect the 2024 election
Here is how three potential outcomes from the jury room ─ a guilty verdict, an acquittal or a hung jury ─ could affect the presidential campaign.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
An Iceland volcano starts erupting again, spewing lava into the sky
A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted Wednesday for the fifth time since December, spewing red streams of lava in the latest display of nature’s power and triggering the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.
'Are you driving?' U.S. man with suspended licence shows up on court Zoom call while behind the wheel
A Michigan man with a suspended driver's licence didn't appear to have thought through a recent court appearance made on video, joining the Zoom call while driving.
Heat-related monkey deaths are reported in several Mexican states
Heat-related howler monkeys deaths in Mexico have been recorded in a total of four states, environmental authorities said.