The fallout and hard feelings in the wake last year's failed firefighting optimization plan extended to the final meeting of this term of city council Tuesday night.
The two councillors most opposed to the plan – Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini and Ward 3 Coun. Gerry Montpellier – were accused of harassing a member of city staff in a complaint filed by the Greater Sudbury Firefighters Association.
After not acting on the complaint, filed in March 2017, the union went to the province in October 2017, prompting the city to hire a third party to deal with the complaint.
Vagnini and Montpellier were particularly upset that residents who supported them were part of the investigation. Montpellier said later he was found guilty because he accused a staff member of “empire building.”
On Tuesday, Vagnini's motion wanted the city to issue a public statement “stating that investigations against the two city councillors and two members of the public were unwarranted and that the parties who were investigated have been exonerated.”
“We're looking for some closure,” Vagnini said. “The purpose of this motion is to say it's over, this is done … This investigation should have never been conducted.”
He and Montpellier want to be able to be in the community without “this beacon on top of our heads,” Vagnini added.
“Let's put this thing to bed, once and for all,” Montpellier said.
“There was never any charges (and) this dragged on for months and months.”
But Ward 9 Coun. Deb McIntosh said councillors only followed direction from the province, which ordered them to investigate the claims.
“We were ordered to by the Ministry of Labour,” McIntosh said. “When the province tells us we have to do something, we have to follow that order.”
While Montpellier insisted the province only wanted an investigation into why the original complaint was investigated, Kevin Fowke, the city's GM of corporate services, said orders from the province included direction to hire a third party to look into the complaint.
“Let's close it and move on – it was an illegal investigation,” Vagnini said. “It should never have been an investigation of councillors or citizens.”
But Fowke said no one has “diplomatic immunity” when it comes to the workplace harassment legislation, including city councillors.
“We would do the same in any other instance, regardless who is involved,” Fowke said.
Ward 11 Coun. Lynne Reynolds, at her last meeting before retiring, said she was disappointed the issue was still “being rehashed again and again.”
“They were the only two councillors who were acclaimed” in the municipal election, Reynolds said. “So obviously, there wasn't much harm done.”
Bigger said that, as far as he's concerned, the issue was closed after the investigation was complete. They followed the province's orders and no one was disciplined
“It was closed and the conversation was closed at that point,” Bigger said.
When Vagnini tried to speak again, Bigger said he was calling the question – which means he was ending debate and forcing a vote.
“You're kidding me?” Vagnini said, and he began yelling at Bigger, even though his microphone was off.
At that point, Vagnini's adviser, Tom Price, started shouting from the audience, demanding to make a point of order.
When Bigger told him he was out of order, Price refused to leave and the meeting was adjourned for 10 minutes. After the break, Price was gone and the vote was held.
Ward 1 Coun. Mark Signoretti and Ward 4 Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac joined Vagnini and Montpellier in voting yes, but everyone else voted 'no,' and the motion failed by a vote of 9-4. Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altman abstained, which, under meetings rules, is recorded as a 'no' vote.
