With a group of protestors in attendance, Councillor Joe Campbell put forth a motion at the start of Monday night's meeting at city hall, to reconsider last week's decision to boot Councillor Rick Dubeau off all his boards and committees.
This included Dubeau's seat on the preliminary hiring committee searching for the city's new Chief Administrative Officer. Current CAO Joe Torlone will be officially retired on January 27, 2017.
That committee is made up of the mayor and four councillors. Those councillors were chosen during an in-camera meeting on June 27 away from the public eye, something that Dubeau opposed. He also said the formal decision to go for a five-person committee was done in-camera, and should also be revisited.
Campbell's ire on Monday was the result of a 'secret ballot'
"The point that I want to make is that the only legitimate person on that committee, that's been voted in open meeting was Councillor Wawrzaszek, at the last meeting. The other three are on that committee based on a secret ballot, where the ballots have been destroyed," he said.
Dubeau asked City Clerk Steph Palmateer about the legalities and legitimacy of a secret ballot.
"Typically, no you're not allowed to have a secret ballot. But you are allowed to pass resolutions in-camera that are of an administrative nature, dealing with administrative matters," replied Palmateer.
Campbell vented across the room towards Councillor Noella Rinaldo, due to the offense he took at an email that was brought to his attention on Monday.
In an e-mail with the subject line 'the arrogance of it all' that Campbell provided to a few reporters after the meeting, Rinaldo did not hold back.
"I am sorry Joe Campbell's arrogance is hard to take. If he was on the committee he would never allow this. We agreed on a concept, I agree the smaller committee is the way to go at the start. I actually feel it should be the smaller committee all the way through."
The smaller search committee will whittle down a 'short list' from more than 200 candidates, according to Rinaldo. All of council will then have the opportunity to interview and select the city's new CAO.
"All councillors will be involved in the decision after the short list. If Mr. Campbell's ego can't trust we can even make a short list, and he has to be there to make his choice, that's his problem. I am confident the committee can make an informed choice. I don't work that well with arrogant bullies, who are sore losers. I am done with this BS" she said in the e-mail.
Councillor Rick Dubeau speaks with some of his supporters who showed up at city hall on Monday night. Andrew Autio for TimminsToday Those who were sent the e-mail are Mayor Steve Black, current CAO Joe Torlone, and Director of Human Resources Rock Foy, as well as all city Councillors except Campbell and Dubeau.
"Around this table we can debate. We have no right to make concerted efforts to disrespect," said Campbell.
He attempted to continue reading a clause from the e-mail when Mayor Steve Black interjected with a reminder from the council's procedural bylaw.
"It's my role to keep decorum and good order in this council meeting. If you want, take up personal matters with Councillor Rinaldo after, but we're not going through it," said Black.
Campbell continued querulously reading.
"I'm going to read this next sentence," he said.
"Well then I'm going to ask you to leave the meeting," said Black.
This provoked a chorus of jeers and boos from the audience.
"I'll ask the members of the public to come to order too."
Rinaldo said she doesn't write e-mails with that tone often, but she did so this week because she was appalled at Campbell's behaviour at a recent in-camera session.
"Twice during the meeting, once in the middle, once at the end, you stood up and said 'I am the one with the most business experience. I'm the one that should be there.' In other words, you're saying you're more qualified than Councillor Wawrzaszek to be on that committee," she said.
Black called for the vote for reconsideration,where only Campbell and Dubeau voted in favor. The motion was defeated.
The CAO preliminary hiring committee is comprised of Black, Rinaldo, Wawrzaszek, Andre Grzela and Pat Bamford. Wawrzaszek took Dubeau's place, based on Black's suggestion.
