Stouffville councillor asked to apologize for 'inappropriate language' during meeting

Yorkregion.com
May 21, 2016
By Ali Raza

It’s not just a House of Commons thing.

There was a “fuddle duddle” moment during Tuesday’s Whitchurch-Stouffville council meeting, according to some in attendance.

A town spokesperson said Thursday that Councillor Maurice Smith “exchanged inappropriate council language” with Mayor Justin Altmann during a vote. Smith and Altmann sit next to each other in the council chambers.

The gaffe was first reported to the town and The Sun-Tribune by a resident on social media then confirmed to the media by the municipality.

Altmann was in the process of confirming a motion to offer Evergreen Hospice’s Taste of Stouffville event a grant of $2,601 to cover fees for its event in Memorial Park this summer when Smith uttered something under his breath.

Though some in the audience - including a Sun-Tribune reporter and town communications co-ordinator Glenn Jackson - couldn’t hear what Smith said, Jackson confirmed the use of  “inappropriate council language” Thursday.

Reporters sit at the back of the council chambers.

The recording, which was posted to the town’s website late Friday, is not crystal clear during the exchange.

Smith asked to speak to the issue but was told by Altmann, who was asking councillors to vote following a discussion, he was too late.

“You have to be listening and on time,” Altmann tells Smith.

“Don’t be ... ” Smith says before the recording fades.

Altmann promptly asked Smith to maintain proper language - and for an apology.

Smith did not apologize.

“Then be warned,” Altmann says.

Smith, who represents the Ballantrae and Musselman's Lake area, did not respond to requests for his comments from The Sun-Tribune made Thursday.

Altmann emailed a response to The Sun-Tribune Friday morning confirming bad language was used, saying: “The council meeting was livestreamed and the resident, Rob Dougald, was listening. He had friends in the audience who were paying attention and they confirmed to him what they witnessed and heard.”

"Very inappropriate, not professional and extremely disrespectful to the mayor and not within proper decorum," Altmann said Friday.

"I did ask for an apology at the time the remark was made and also cautioned on the use of language against members of council and reminded council as a whole that we are to act with respect towards each other. I did not receive an apology."

Altmann did not repeat the phrase when asked in an email.

Will discipline be sought?

"Nothing further will come of this matter," Altmann said.