COCHRANE - Mayor Peter Politis' pay has been suspended for 90 days.
Cochrane council agreed to take the step suggested in a report by the town's integrity commissioner at its meeting last night (Jan. 30).
At the meeting, integrity commissioner Harold G. Elston talked about his investigation and reports that he ultimately found Politis bullied, harassed and intimidated two senior town managers — CAO Monika Malherbe and then-director of community services Jason Boyer. Politis also gave a lengthy rebuttal to the reports.
Throughout Elston’s presentation and the conversation following it, more than 325 people were tuned into the meeting online. There were also members of the public watching in the public gallery at town hall.
Coun. Rodney Hoogendoud chaired the meeting, though Politis sat in the mayor's seat throughout leaving only when it was time for council to discuss the pay suspension.
Councillors had mixed comments about the situation. During the nearly five-hour meeting, during which only the report was discussed, each councillor spoke for roughly 30 minutes to express their opinion, while Politis had the opportunity to speak for over an hour. A resolution to allow Politis to carry on past the five minutes allotted was made.
Throughout the meeting, the chair threatened to vacate residents from council chambers several times due to members of the public speaking out against the mayor.
Politis was elected as mayor in October 2022. He previously served as mayor from 2014-18. In 2023 his base salary was $24,400.
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Last year, Malherbe and Boyer filed separate complaints, alleging they were subject to workplace harassment, bullying and intimidation by Politis.
On July 19, 2023, Boyer went on a leave of absence and later resigned on Dec. 15. Malherbe has been on medical leave since June 28, 2023.
SEE: Cochrane mayor bullied, harassed senior managers: Integrity commissioner
The integrity commissioner’s reports highlight examples of incidents and email exchanges between Boyer and Politis, as well as Malherbe and Politis.
In both of the investigations, Elston found that the mayor tried to micromanage town business and events.
In her complaint to the integrity commissioner, Malherbe said the unwanted behaviour towards her by the mayor started early in the council term and peaked at the end of June 2023.
Malberbe talked to human resources and explained what happened and has been on leave since.
Similar to Malherbe, Boyer said the issues started shortly after the term started. Elston said that Boyer alleged the mayor psychologically harassed him for eight months.
In particular, he alleges “that many of the Mayor’s emails to him have been deliberately intimidating, harassing, manipulative, authoritative, and in violation of town policy,” Elston wrote in his report.
Elston's recommendation to suspend Politis' pay for 90 days includes 45 days for each investigation.
Read Malherbe’s full report here. Boyer’s report is available here.
Read more coverage on the story, including follow-up conversations with council members, here.
