Stratford City Council voted Monday against suspension of its respectful workplace policy.
Coun. Cody Sebben put forth a motion to suspend the policy at an earlier meeting, noting that the policy wasn’t working as it should.
That came after two city residents – Mike Sullivan and Barb Shaughnessy – were suspended from all city property for three months. They are alleged to have made offensive statements to city staff at a February council meeting.
Sebben said meetings have been cancelled and “we have a city council that cannot function.”
Those meetings were cancelled after the banned residents showed up in council chambers during their suspensions, which have since ended.
The city received five incident reports from city staff as well as three reports from three individuals at the February meeting alleging bullying, harassing and threatening behaviour.
The Feb. 26 meeting is available on the city’s website.
The city provided a lawyer and the accused residents with a list of behaviours found to be “disrespectful, derogatory, inappropriate, misleading and vexatious”.
On Monday night, some Stratford residents spoke in support of Sebben’s motion, including Shaughnessy.
Shaughnessy addressed council, saying their policy is a Pandora’s box, which just keeps on giving.
“When you approved the policy, it became your fault. The city of Stratford has been damaged nationwide by your actions and inactions,” she said.
Ken Wood, a Stratford resident, said words have meaning and they can be easily misunderstood.
Robert Roth, a journalist and Stratford resident, said that councillors are the ones creating a unsafe environment for staff.
“When it comes to free speech, councillors decision making process in an orderly function of this city; the workplace policy has become a weapon of mass destruction,” Roth said.
City of Stratford CEO Joan Thomson previously told MyStratfordNow that city council chambers are a public space and also a workplace, and “we are responsible for ensuring it’s a safe and respectful place for everyone.”
People should feel welcome in public spaces, and feel safe and respected, she said.
“The city has a respectful workplace policy that highlights the importance of treating everyone – city employees, city council and members of the public, with dignity and respect. It is our responsibility and our duty to take appropriate action when someone violates that policy.”
Although council voted 9-2 against suspension of the policy, all voted in favour of a staff review and options will be provided at a future meeting.
