Will Stouffville Mayor Justin Altmann make public apology?

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 7, 2017
By Simon Martin

It's been more than a month since Whitchurch-Stouffville council voted to the implement the integrity commissioner's recommendation that docked Mayor Justin Altmann one month's pay and asked him to publicly apologize for the creation of a mind map on his bathroom wall.

Integrity commissioner Suzanne Craig found Altmann's actions amounted to workplace harassment in a report released Sept. 22. "The respondent's (Altmann) conduct in developing the wall created and contributed to an intimidating work environment for the complainant and other employees," her report said.

Craig found that Altmann violated three sections of the town's code of conduct, relating to harassment, discreditable conduct and conduct respecting staff.

While Altmann has already been docked one month's pay from the town which amounted to $5,076.33 he has yet to issue a public apology leaving many to wonder if one is forthcoming.

When contacted by the Stouffville Sun-Tribune about if an apology was forthcoming, Altmann referred his answer to a report from his lawyer that was delivered at the Sept. 26 council meeting when the integrity commissioner met with council.

In Altmann's response to the integrity commissioner's report delivered by his lawyer Hermie Abraham, they found the investigation conducted by the integrity commissioner was not fair, was biased and should be reviewed by a neutral third party.

Abraham also said they weren't given ample time by Craig to respond to some of the allegations in the report. Craig disputed this complaint and said Altmann's camp was given more than enough time.

The lack of contrition shown by Altmann since the sanction was imposed raises alarm bells for Craig. In this situation employees were significantly impacted by the behaviour of the mayor, she said. "I'm deeply disappointed by the inaction," she said. "In the environment we are in right now, harassment should never be taken lightly."

If Altmann does not issue a public apology within 90 days of the penalty that was recommended by the integrity commissioner, council could find Altmann in violation of the code of conduct once again. "We start the whole process over again," Ward 4 Coun. Rick Upton said.

Upton said at this point an apology from the mayor seems a little late in the game. "Staff are very disappointed and concerned that they haven't heard an apology," Upton said.

Ward 6 Coun. Rob Hargrave said he doesn't know what would happen if the Altmann doesn't apologize. "That's a question for the mayor," he said.

Council certainly would be in an unusual situation if Altmann decided not to apologize, Ward 3 Coun. Hugo Kroon said. "I don't know what we are going to do. This is all new territory for everyone involved."

The mayor isn't the only one lighter in the wallet after the integrity commissioner investigation. The integrity commissioner report, and the independent investigator that was part of that, cost the town a total of $111,210.

As part of her investigation, Craig interviewed 18 people.