Stouffville Mayor Altmann boycotts town's New Year's Eve celebration

YorkRegion.com
Jan. 8, 2018
Simon Martin

Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Justin Altmann let it be known on Facebook that he would not attend the town’s New Year’s Eve fireworks event at Memorial Park.

“In light of the ongoing litigation against a number of our residents and a member of our town council, the blatant disregard for my repetitive concerns for our community have been snubbed off. This is why both Jenny and I will not be participating in this New Year's event,” Altmann said on Facebook.

Jenny Altmann followed up with a post of her own.

“Freedom of speech is one of our most basic human rights. I believe in united communities. No amount of fireworks will make me forget about the precedence that has been set with this young educator. An appeal has been filed. This poor educator's nightmare continues,” a portion of the post stated. Along with the post was an image that said "Free Fireworks? No Thank You. Stouffville Would Prefer United Souls."

It appears the references to ongoing litigation were in reference to various lawsuits United Soils Management had launched in the community against local residents Katie Mohammed and Kayt Barclay.  Altmann, himself, was also embroiled in a legal proceeding with United Soils in regards to the mayor's community fund. Tiny Seedlings was the sponsor of the fireworks event and helped host the event alongside the town. Tiny Seedlings is a community initiative from United Soils.

Other members of council voiced their disappointment with the mayor’s decision not to attend the event.

“Rather than accept the wishes of the majority of council, Mayor Altmann has once again gone on social media in an attempt to discredit the work put forward by staff. In effect, he is trying to persuade residents to spend New Years in any community other than Stouffville,” Ward 2 Coun. Maurice Smith wrote on Facebook.

He wasn’t the only councillor to respond. “Sad. Here’s to a better 2018,” Ward 5 Coun. Iain Lovatt tweeted.

Instead of going to fireworks display at Memorial Park, Altmann said he spent the evening inside with friends and family.

Altmann was also upset with how the town administered the event. He said this was the first year the event wasn’t run through the mayor’s office. In the past, local businesses contributed money to help put on the fireworks. He said they would raise between $14,000 and $17,000.  When council changed the policy last year, Altmann said he voiced his opinion that $15,000 should be set aside in the budget to fund the event and the local businesses shouldn’t be solicited to contribute. Where in the past many businesses contributed to put on the event, Altmann said he was disturbed that the sponsorship only went to one company and that it wasn’t put out to the public in the name of transparency.   

Last year, Justice Thomas R. Lederer not only found no grounds for a lawsuit from United Soils against Stouffville resident Katie Mohammed, he also awarded damages of $7,500 to Mohammed under the province’s new anti-SLAPP legislation. According to Sotos LLP (Mohammed’s law firm), it is the first case where damages were awarded to a defendant under the legislation.

Lederer held no punches in his decision.

“Having received the apology demanded, United Soils Management went ahead and sued. What was the purpose? It had what it needed, but it pressed on. This was a continuation of its desire to intimidate,” he wrote. “The proceeding is not only without substantial merit. There is no merit.”

United Soils has appealed the decision and it is expected to be heard later this year.

United Soils has pending litigation with other local residents for comments made on local Facebook groups. Musselman Lake resident Kayt Barclay is facing a similar defamation suit for comments made on Facebook. Sotos is also representing her and has filed an anti-SLAPP counter claim.

In August 2016, town council passed an amendment to allow “acceptable fill from small quantity sources and hydro-excavation trucks," but Altmann voted against the motion.

Mohammed made comments on a few local Facebook groups and was asked for a retraction from United Soils lawyer William Chalmers. 

Mohammed, fearful of facing litigation, posted her retraction and apologies in the Facebook groups on Sept. 8, 2016, and additionally sent personal messages to members retracting her statements.

The next day, Mohammed received a statement of claim from United Soils’ lawyer, claiming defamation and seeking damages of $100,000 for libel, aggravated damages of $10,000 and punitive damages of $10,000, totalling $120,000.