An investigation into workplace harassment complaints involving a city employee will now get some outside help.
After meeting in private for two hours and 25 minutes Monday night, city council approved a motion — with no discussion — that includes retaining legal counsel to provide advice to Barrie councillors on alternative actions and related risks regarding a confidential staff report dealing with workplace harassment allegations.
This information would only be circulated to councillors not directly associated with this matter.
Council also decided to retain someone, again external, with expertise in human resources and municipal law to review staff’s handling of the complaint in this confidential staff report, and report back to councillors on possible changes to policy and procedures on how complaints are dealt with in the future.
And the city’s integrity commissioner, Suzanne Craig, will be be consulted by city staff on the choice of external help and council will approve the choices.
These matters were all approved by a recorded vote of 10-0. Coun. Mike McCann was asked for his vote on the amendments, but did not respond each time.
A motion that city council and staff be encouraged to participate in the national survey on workplace harassment and violence, called Respect in the Workplace, being conducted by the Centre for Research and Education on violence against women and children at Western University, was also approved by council.
Council also condemned all forms of harassment and will ensure that all out-of-date workplace policies are updated to align with those of the integrity commissioner.
Michael Murphy, CUPE Local 2380 president, has said several workplace harassment allegations were made during the past year and some were substantiated. He declined to give any details about who was involved or what happened.
Murphy did say this sort of thing has not happened before, to his knowledge, involving his union, which has about 500 full-time members working for the city.
Barrie city police had no information Monday on an investigation of allegations of workplace harassment.
Craig has said she has not participated in a City of Barrie investigation into workplace harassment.
Council also passed a motion last night that is associated with complaints concerning members of council and committees related to workplace violence or harassment.
A confidential staff report concerning personal information, and advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege matters concerning a workplace harassment investigation, was received by council Monday night.
The city’s director of human resources and city clerk, in consultation with the integrity commissioner and legal counsel, were authorized to amend the violence in the workplace and workplace human rights procedures to remove language identifying roles and responsibilities for city council, and staff, in the investigation process associated with complaint allegations involving council and committee members.
And the city clerk, in consultation with the integrity commissioner and legal counsel, will review the council and committee member Code of Conduct and report back to general committee regarding amendments that may be required to provide clarification of roles and responsibilities of the integrity commissioner associated with complaints concerning members of council and committees related to workplace violence or harassment.
This motion was also approved by a 10-0 recorded vote. McCann was again asked for his vote, but did not respond.
