A workplace investigation report says Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley violated the Harassment Policy and the workplace harassment provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
A 46-page report, undertaken by human resources lawyer and investigator Lauren Bernardi, was released by the city Friday.
The extensive investigation involved four complainants; City Manager Margaret Misek -Evans, former Director of Planning and Building Jane Cooper, former Director of Parks and Recreation Beth Gignac and former City Clerk Nancy Wright-Laking.
Bernardi says she received over 70 different allegations and volumes of documents and emails, all of which had to be reviewed and considered in depth to enable her to make her findings.
"I find on a balance of probabilities that the allegations against Mayor Bradley have been substantiated and that he has engaged in a course of vexatious comments and conduct which created a poisoned work environment for the complainants. In other words, he harassed and bullied all four complainants," says Bernardi. "In fact, Mayor Bradley engaged in almost all of the different forms of harassment, including verbal abuse, psychological abuse, supervisory abuse, relational aggression and character assassination.
"It can be difficult to accept that someone who is as well-liked and popular as Mayor Bradley can engage in such egregious bullying and harassment of those around him. However, there is overwhelming evidence to demonstrate that Mayor Bradley did exactly that."
The city retained outside legal counsel in late January of this year to provide advice on workplace harassment complaints that had been received. James Knight was authorized to retain an external investigator.
Council has held two special closed council meetings, including one Thursday that lasted over four hours, to discuss the report and recommendations on moving forward.
The city says council directed staff to take certain immediate steps and to provide several reports, all of which will be presented at the next meeting of council October 24. At that time, the implementation of recommendations stemming from the findings of the investigation will be considered.
Acting City Manager Andre Morin says he's unable at this time to comment on potential penalties the mayor could face.
"I honestly can't speak to that, that's part of the meetings that were had with council and those will be reported out October 24," says Morin.
Morin doesn't know the costs associated with the report but says it was necessary to undertake.
"There is cost involved clearly, however, once these complaints were received we had to react by law and the code of conduct," says Morin. "We had to provide an effective investigation with recommendations to promote a safe and healthy workplace. Therefore, there are costs but the main point to focus on is that we had to respond and have this investigation undertaken."
To read the full report, click here.