Hamilton councillor Terry Whitehead docked pay for 'unacceptable' bullying again

Hamilton city councillor Terry Whitehead has been docked pay for a second time over allegations of bullying, this time for reportedly trying to intimidate the city clerk and the city's the executive director of human resources.

Councillors voted Tuesday to withhold 45 days worth of pay from the long-time Mountain politician after a damning integrity commissioner report.

They also voted to have Whitehead notify staff and council before attending city hall and havestaff put together a plan to ensure city hall is a safe working environment.

Councillors previously withheld a month of pay from Whitehead and limited his communication to top-level managers and his own staff.

The report said the Ward 14 rep bullied and spread rumours about a chief roads official whose actions he disagreed with when it came to traffic on Aberdeen Avenue.

Whitehead rejected the findings and wants a court to review the report.

This time, the report adds Whitehead made a surprise visit to the city clerk's office on Nov. 4, 2021, and "proceeded to angrily criticize and challenge her role" in filing thecomplaint related tothe chief roads officialagainst him.

He also "threatened" the city clerk with "consequences" and "legal repercussions" for processing the complaints, according tothe report.

The report says Whitehead secretly recorded the interaction, and the report says it "makes it quite evident that his intention" was to "strong-arm" the clerk and prevent her from placing the commissioner's findings on council's agenda that week.

The report also states he left an "implied threat" on the voicemail of the executive director of human resourceson Nov. 5 for her "instrumental" role in the complaint.

"[He] told her he 'had to do what he had to do' but that 'he hoped she understood' and there were 'no hard feelings,'" the report reads.

There's also a complaint stating Whitehead bulliedWaterdown Coun. Judi Partridge during a Feb. 9 meeting via an online chat.

The report said he told the Waterdown councillor "throwing mud is not productive and certainly something you might want to rethink on some one that has nothing to lose."

The report says the evidence shows "a repeated pattern of unacceptable bullying and harassing behaviour."

Whitehead sayshe's taking another medical leave

On Wednesday, Whitehead said he wasn't debating the report but said hewas being continually "blindsided" by the report. Whitehead saidhe and his lawyer didn't get a chance to respond to it.

He also said he issued written apologies to those involved (Partridge said earlier she never got an apology).

He also pointed to a "basically incurable" medical issue that took him out of action for months, saying it led to him experiencing depression and anxiety.

Ward 1 Coun. Maureen Wilson suggested a motion that ban Whitehead from city hall, but councillors didn't end up voting on it.

Whitehead said that was "premature," asking where council draws a line in holding people accountable versus bullying.

He also said it was premature because he'll be taking another break from his duties as councillor because of his medical challenges.

Whitehead hasn't registered to run for re-election as councillor of Ward 14. Candidates have until Aug. 19 to do so.

So far, the candidates for his ward are Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion executive director Kojo Damptey and Brian Lewis, who has experience in logistics and volunteering, includingfor Hamilton police's Victim Services Branch.

How they voted

Who voted in favour of withholding45 days of pay from Whitehead, have him notify staff and council when he's attending city hall andhave staff come up with a plan to ensure city hallis a safe work environment.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger, Maureen Wilson (Ward 1), Jason Farr (2), Nrinder Nann (3), Russ Powers (5), Tom Jackson (6), Esther Pauls (7), John-Paul Danko (8), Brad Clark (9), Maria Pearson (10), Brenda Johnson (11), Lloyd Ferguson (12), Arlene VanderBeek (13), Judi Partridge (15).

Conflict

Terry Whitehead (14).

Absent

Sam Merulla (4).