Ward 3 Coun. Gerry Montpellier won’t have his remuneration suspended for 60 days, as recommended by Integrity Commissioner Robert Swayze.
Instead, councillors voted to reprimand Montpellier, despite a strong urging by Swayze to fine the councillor, saying his “diatribes” must stop.
“He’s obviously going to keep it up, and the only way to stop him is to fine him,” Swayze told council on Wednesday afternoon, as he presented his report.
Swayze said his office received an anonymous complaint on May 19 about Montpellier’s criticisms in a newspaper article, in which Montpellier accuses fire management staff as having a “condescending nature” and “endorsing warfare.” In the article, he is quoted as saying fire management staff treat volunteer firefighters as “third-class citizens.”
This is the second time Montpellier has found himself the subject of an investigation by Swayze’s office. In March, council voted not to suspend Montpellier’s remuneration, and opted for a reprimand.
“I have done this before,” Swayze said. “Coun. Montpellier has severely and publicly criticized staff for a second time. This is clearly contrary to the code of conduct. If any member of council has a problem with staff, they can request a closed-door meeting and comment privately to council.”
Montpellier said he doesn’t know the identity of the complainant, but he questions the motive.
“In the interview (with media), I agreed with the concerns expressed in a 200-employee departmental survey,” said Montpellier. “That’s it, that’s all. The survey stated that 64.5 per cent of volunteer respondents had considered quitting the fire services. It’s alarming for any community, and of course I acknowledge there’s a problem.”
Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann raised the issue of anonymous complaints against councillors.
Swayze said he does have the name of the complainant, who asked they remain anonymous, and he said he is respecting that request.
“That’s what all integrity commissioner’s do, if requested,” he said. “There are times when I won’t approve anonymity, because it’s obvious during the investigation the name will come out, but that isn’t the case here.”
No matter the outcome following Wednesday’s meeting, Montpellier said he will not be deterred.
“No matter how many out-of-control fines Mr. Swayze, aided by his unidentified complainants, throws at me, I will continue,” Montpellier said. “No pay will not deter me from being at work, advocating for our continued future and prosperity.”
In a roll-call vote to amend the motion for a reprimand only, as the original motion called for council to fine Montpellier, councillors Geoff McCausland and Mike Jakubo abstained from the vote.
“ I feel someone has to acknowledge that we do have a code of conduct for council, we have an anonymous ability for the public or anyone to file a complaint,” said Jakubo. “It’s clear there is a lack of respect for the policies put in place, and I have no confidence a reprimand or even a fine would stop this from happening again. For this reason, I am abstaining from the vote.”
The only councillor to vote against the amended motion for a reprimand only with no fine was Ward 8 Coun. Al Sizer.
Other councillors came to his defence.
Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc said he has worked with Montpellier for 2.5 years.
“I have met a lot of his residents, friends, and they all tell me how he will never lie to you, he tells the truth,” said Leduc. “I have a hard time fining someone because someone registered an anonymous complaint against Mr. Montpellier.
“We, as councillors, don’t make a lot of money, and to fine him this much is ludicrous. Gerry Montpellier was elected by the people, his people, who he represents. I can’t fine him for doing his job and serving the public and for speaking up for volunteer firefighters. He may have used a few wrong words, but that’s his character. He won’t change, and I don’t want to see him change, and I think those in his ward don’t want him to change.”
Ward 5 Coun. Robert Kirwan, who has also been the subject of complaints to the integrity commissioner for his social media practices, said in 6.5 years, “I don’t think we’ve seen more cohesion in a council.”
He said councillors shouldn’t have to decide whether or not to fine one of their colleagues.
“We’ve shown we can work together,” Kirwan said. “As far as I’m concerned, we should not be asked to punish a fellow councillor. I cannot support a fine, or a suspension of his salary, because he’s still required to work for his constituents.”
Kirwan said he could support a reprimand, because what Montpellier said in the media did reflect poorly on city staff.
Voting in favour of the reprimand was councillors McCausland, Kirwan, Rene Lapierre, Jakubo, Deb McIntosh, Leduc, Landry-Altmann, Mark Signoretti, Michael Vagnini and Mayor Brian Bigger.
Coun. Al Sizer abstained from the vote.
For his part, Montpellier said he “will endeavour to do better” moving forward.
