City of Greater Sudbury Ward 3 Coun. Gerry Montpellier has found himself in hot water with the city’s integrity commissioner.
A report headed to next week’s council meeting from Robert Swayze recommends that compensation paid to Montpellier be suspended for 60 days.
The report comes after Swayze investigated in January complaints against Montpellier alleging he publicly criticized staff in a letter to the prime minister, as well as during a television interview with local media.
“I found the criticism to be severe and contrary to the Code of Conduct for Members of Council and Local Bands,” Swayze wrote in his report.
He recommended to council at that time to suspend compensation to Montpellier for 60 days. Council voted in favour of Montpellier, reducing the actions to a reprimand, instead.
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.”
“I am advised that the continuing negative public statements by a person who holds a position of influence and authority about staff are having a serious impact on the morale of the professional firefighter staff,” Swayze wrote. “
It is obvious that the reprimand against Montpellier, delivered by council, has not deterred him from continuing to publicly harass professional fire staff, said Swayze.
“His statements in the interview … constitutes a second offence under the Code,” he said. “In my opinion, the statements made by (Montpellier) were purposely an attempt to injure the professional reputation of the professional firefighter staff.
Swayze said he “strongly” recommends a sanction of the suspension of Montpellier’s salary for 60 days for a second offence, beginning with the next pay period.
“If he continues to make negative public comments about staff, my next recommendation will be 90 days suspension,” said Swayze.
