Sarnia council has upheld restrictions placed against Councillor Bill Dennis.
Dennis, who was barred from city hall and from attending in-person council meetings in January after breaching the city’s Workplace Harassment and Violence Policy and Program, had asked on April 29 for permission to return to in-person meetings once they resume.
Mayor Mike Bradley reported the group's decision out of a special closed meeting held on Friday morning.
"Council received legal advice, subject to solicitor/client privilege, with respect to findings and recommendations resulting from a previous workplace harassment investigation and the council member's participation at in-person meetings," Bradley said. "The position of the city council, unanimously, as it was voted on back in January, is to accept the recommendation to continue to ask the councillor to participate by Zoom and not in-person."
Following the decision, council also unanimously agreed to resume in-person meetings on May 26.
Councillor Dennis was not visibly in attendance during Friday's virtual session.
Council transitioned back to online meetings last spring because of workplace health and safety concerns related to Dennis.
In November 2024, Dennis was expelled from budget deliberations following an outburst.
Dennis offered a written apology in December, and Mayor Mike Bradley warned they were "now moving into a zero tolerance world."
Meanwhile, a formal complaint from Aamjiwnaang Chief Janelle Nahmabin over remarks made by Dennis at Lambton County Council is still being reviewed.
The county's integrity commissioner reported last month that an attempt at mediation was unsuccessful.
