(Image from Municipality of Meaford Website)
Meaford has passed a recommendation from its Integrity Commissioner for council and members of senior staff to undergo an education and training session, following a probe into complaints about comments made by Coun. Tony Bell at a meeting earlier this year.
During a meeting on Sept. 27, a report was brought to council after separate complaints were received by the Integrity Commissioner on June 2 from two members of Meaford senior administrative staff.
The two members of Meaford administrative staff who filed complaints were not identified in the Integrity Commissioner’s report.
The report says: “the councillor stated publicly that staff who are struggling with mental health issues and ‘can’t handle it’ should leave the organization and can just be replaced by someone new.”
Coun. Bell reportedly made the comments during a council meeting on May 31.
According to the Integrity Commissioner’s report, the complainants alleged Bell’s statements breached the Code of Conduct and the Council-Staff-Relations Policy, constituting harassment or discrimination against staff who are living with mental health issues.
An investigation was launched when the complaints were received, which included conducting interviews and determining if the complaints were in the scope, jurisdiction and public interest to pursue.
Council initially met May 17 in a closed session to talk about the stress issues staff were facing, as several of their key senior staff were away on stress leave.
Meaford CAO Rob Armstrong then brought a report to council on May 31, recommending changes be made to the organization. These included responding strategically to growth pressures facing the municipality, and hiring four new staff.
The report claims council members grappled with the idea of adding staff, when Bell made a statement suggesting staff who might be struggling with stress as a result of the demands and expectations of work, should decide what is best for themselves and their families, in a way which would allow management to replace their positions.
When the investigation was launched, Bell reportedly acknowledged his comments exhibited a lack of understanding and were inappropriate. He expressed regret.
During council’s Sept. 27 meeting when the Integrity Commissioner’s report was received, Coun. Steve Bartley explains he believes Bell was speaking from the standpoint of offering advice.
“If you are not comfortable with your job and you are not happy with your job, and one third of your life is in your job, why stay there? Get out and do something that you like. I do believe that it was just advice and at no time was there any malice to degrade any of the staff, because I know everybody on this stage thinks we have the best staff in the county,” says Bartley.
The report made clear Bell’s comments were not acceptable, and were hurtful to a number of staff. The staff members were also disappointed no council member spoke up in their defence.
Ultimately, the Integrity Commissioner found the complaints received were substantiated and accepted Bell’s comments were not out of malice.
Instead of enacting any sanctions, it was observed Bell, as well as the rest of council and senior staff, would benefit from training on good ethical conduct, appropriate governance practices, respective roles and responsibilities of members of council and staff, and appropriate and meaningful approaches to address sensitive topics.
Bell says he is in favour of the resolution reached by the Integrity Commissioner, as the education and training will only make the municipality better.
“I struggled and this is only going to make our municipality better and take us forward in a good positive manner,” says Bell.
An in-person education and training session for members of council and senior staff will be held on Nov. 8.
