Sanctions against Sarnia mayor lifted, investigation removed from city website

Sarnia's mayor will be able to come and go as he pleases.

City council voted to lift restrictions from Mayor Mike Bradley after an almost three-year stretch of sanctions.

The restrictions were put in place after harassment allegations were investigated in 2016. The ensuing report found Bradley bullied and harassed senior staff, including the city planner, clerk and chief administrativeofficer.

WATCH This explainer video released by the City of Sarnia in 2016 walks through why sanctions were imposed:

Mayor Bradley Explainer

8 years ago

Duration 2:41

City of Sarnia releases explanation of investigation into Mayor Mike Bradley

"I'm pretty happy for the community," said Coun. Dave Boushy, who has been a supporter of Bradley through allthe turmoil. "I have supported Mike now for three years and now the sanctions are off."

After getting legal advice, council voted on several motions:

• 24/7 access to the mayor's office at City Hall through the security system
• During business hours, the mayor may freely enter the area of City Hall where senior administration's offices are located
• The mayor's right to communicate with members of City Hall staff without an intermediary
• Removal of the workplace investigation section from www.sarnia.ca

All the changes were passed unanimously, except the last one. Two councillorswanted the information to remain on the city's website, but the majority of council voted to make the report available upon request only.

"He can meet the staff, talk to anyone. He can enter the hall anytime he wants," said Boushy. "He should be pretty happy."

Some other restrictions will remain in place. For example, Bradley will not be allowed to attend meetings of senior administration.

"Part of the job of being mayor is knowing the difference between being CEO and CAO," said former city councillor Anne Marie Gillis."It's not the job of an elected official to be the administration."

Gillisran unsuccessfully for mayor against Bradley in October 2018. Prior to that she was a city councillor, who was designated to be the intermediary between Bradley and senior city staff.

She has doubts about whether Bradley has changed.

"Hope springs eternal, but given the fact that the behaviour of this present mayor has been the same behaviour exhibited over the past 30 years, it's very hard to teach an old dog new tricks," said Gillis.

Bradley had no comment for CBC News when reached by phone Wednesday morning.

"We're trying to get together, be united and move on," said Boushy.

WATCH Sarnia's mayor talk to CBC News in 2016 after being 'locked out':

Sarnia mayor locked out over alleged bullying

8 years ago

Duration 2:30

Mike Bradley allegedly created a poisoned work environment for city staff, but that hasn't put a dent in his popularity

Boushy describes the last election as "cleaning house" by the community. Three administrators who complained about Bradley in 2016 have now left city operations.

"We have a brand new CAO being hired, fresh outlook on the community," said Boushy, adding that he was the "only one" who supported Bradley.

"I don't understand why they gave him a hard time. He's nothing but good for the community."

Gillisdoesn't see it that way. She saidthere was an "egregious violation" of the Occupational Safety Act, and is disappointed so many high-ranking staff members have left city hall.

Calling them "The Dream Team," Gillissaid the staff members who had a difficult working relationship with Bradley were experts in their fields, and "moving the city forward in a progressive way. They will be hard to replace."