Stouffville mayor confirms 'CSI-style' wall, calls it 'mind map'
“It’s not regular behaviour by any means,” says former mayor Sue Sherban
YorkRegion.com
July 5, 2017
Simon Martin
Images obtained by the Sun-Tribune show Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Justin Altmann has a ‘CSI-style’ wall in his office.
The wall, found in the mayor’s private bathroom, includes photos of several members of council, former and current town staff, and residents meticulously arranged with arrows and animations saying “you’re fired” or “hired”.
Altmann admitted the existence of the wall and said it’s related to an ongoing police investigation that has lasted the past 2-1/2 years. He said he made a “mind map”, but, as per policy, York Regional Police would not confirm or deny an investigation.
Altmann said he has endured harassment in the form of anonymous packages and slashed tires.
“Somebody on council is leaking top secret information,” he said, adding he has “40 binders and 5,000 emails” to show connections.
“It’s not regular behaviour by any means,” former mayor Sue Sherban said of the wall
The Toronto Star reported on July 3 that residents, town staff and politicians knew about the wall. Integrity commissioner Suzanne Craig – who was recently hired – confirmed with the Star that she is investigating a complaint, but didn’t specify if it was regarding the wall.
Among photos posted on Altmann’s wall is one of United Soils Management Inc. owner Alec Cloke, who has had a contentious relationship with Altmann since at least September 2016, when the mayor refused to sign a bylaw amendment for 14245 Ninth Line (owned by United Soils) to allow “acceptable fill from small quantity source sites and hydro-excavation trucks.”
Deputy Mayor and Councillor Hugo Kroon signed the bylaw instead.
Cloke said he wasn’t surprised to be on the wall and said he knew all about it.
The Star reported a town staffer discovered Altmann’s wall.
Yet it seems the wall is common knowledge at town hall; councillors, staff and even residents, such as Cloke, know about it. Councillor Ken Ferdinands told the Star he saw the wall.
“It was a very orderly series of photographs,” he said. “I don’t know why it was up there. I couldn’t see any purpose for it, but certainly I wasn’t disturbed by it. I had a very neutral reaction to it.”
“I didn’t draw any conclusions from it,” Ferdinands said.
Identified people on the wall include present members of council and members of council from 2010 to 2014 – including former mayor Wayne Emmerson. Former mayor Sue Sherban is also present, as is former town clerk Michelle Kennedy. A photo of Toronto-based lawyer William Chalmers is paired with specific members of council: Kroon, Rick Upton, Rob Hargrave and Altmann.
Other photos on the wall include former chief administrative officers: Dave Cash, Andrew McNeely, Marc Pourvahidi, Rob McKenzie and Rob Raycroft.
Since 2013, the town has gone through five CAOs, hiring their latest – Roman Martiuk – just last month. Martiuk will assume his role in August.
But the turnover seems evident on Altmann’s wall, with “you’re fired” and “hired” posted beside, below and above various staff members and CAOs.
Martiuk is taking over the role from leisure services director Raycroft, who was acting CAO since May 10, 2016. Raycroft assumed the role after former acting CAO and current fire chief McKenzie held it for just two weeks in May 2016.
Raycroft submitted his resignation in December 2016 and an email leak cited his reasons:
“I won’t accept aggressive behaviour or threats of being sued/harassment charges on the phone,” the letter reads. “It’s very disappointing that this is what staff have to endure at the municipal offices.”
Before McKenzie, Pourvahidi was the town’s official CAO from April 21, 2015 to the time he went on “sick leave” in late April 2016. In May, the town announced Pourvahidi was on administrative leave due to a “personnel matter”.
Before Pourvahidi took over the role, Andrew McNeely was CAO from 2013 to his resignation on April 21, 2015 – like Pourvahidi, McNeely was also placed on administrative leave prior to his resignation.
Cash, the town’s CAO during former mayor Wayne Emmerson’s tenure, held the role from 2006 to 2013 – when he unexpectedly retired.
All the former CAOs are present on Altmann’s wall and strung together with arrows and symbols.
It’s not just CAOs who are leaving town. In May 2016, the Sun-Tribune reported an exodus of 30 staff members since Jan. 1, 2015.
“The level of trust in this organization is so low,” former human resources manager Pavlina Thompson told council in 2016. Thompson joined the growing list of former staffers when she resigned in February 2017.
The town has a staff of 470 and since 2014 has had 42 staffing changes and 30 people leave.
