Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc is facing a potential 30-day suspension in pay, not the 10 days the city’s integrity commissioner inadvertently indicated.
Leduc forwarded correspondence from city integrity commissioner David Boghosian to Sudbury.com on Oct. 27, in which it’s noted the 10-day suspension he’d initially indicated was a mistake.
The city councillor had until 5 p.m. Oct. 27 to respond, but Leduc told Sudbury.com he would not do so.
“I kind of fear from this integrity commissioner that any type of response is going to further my suspension,” he said, adding that before the upgrade to 30 days, he’d intended on responding.
He will, however, fight the ruling in council chambers whenever it comes up for discussion.
It’s unclear when the integrity commissioner’s final report will be tabled with city council, but their next meeting is scheduled to take place on Nov. 7 beginning at 6 p.m.
It will be up to city council as a whole whether to impose the suspensions in pay being recommended.
The proposed suspension relates to Code of Conduct violations Boghosian believes Leduc is responsible for as a result of attending and contributing to a public meeting held Sep. 7 which was critical of city staff members.
The meeting featured Road Surface Recycling vice president technology and research Frank Crupi. His company had been contracted to undertake an asphalt recycling project on The Kingsway but was ordered to stop work due to what a third-party review of their work described as repeated failures to meet city specifications. Crupi spoke against the city’s decision and made various unproven claims about named city staff members.
(An in-depth account of Crupi’s claims against the city is available by clicking here)
During the meeting, Leduc publicly shared private information about staff members with the audience, which Boghosian said “served to further fuel the ‘nepotism’ rhetoric of the RSR representatives as well as the audience.”
Ward 3 Coun. Gerry Montpellier and Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini also participated in the Sept. 7 meeting, and Boghosian has proposed city council giving Montpellier a 10-day suspension. It's unclear what suspension, if any, Vagnini may face.*
City CAO Ed Archer has already censured the three council members for their involvement in the meeting. Similar to Boghosian’s approach, Archer levied the greatest penalty against Leduc by restricting the city staff members he is allowed to contact directly.
“It is important that staff feel their workplace is a supportive, safe space for them to do their best work,” Archer wrote to Leduc at the time. “Your comments and actions impair their ability to maintain such a feeling. This is unacceptable.”
Until further notice, Leduc was asked not to reach out to city staff members directly, and to contact Archer with inquiries.
*Editor's note: This line has been corrected to reflect accurate known time frames.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
