Sarnia considering $74K renovation to isolate Mike Bradley from staffers

City staff in Sarnia, Ont. want council to spend $74,000 to keep Mayor Mike Bradley away from their workspace.

Bradley, who's been sanctioned several times for allegedlybullying and harassing city employees, had been ordered to move his office to the city transit building. But staff there did not want to work with him either.

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Finally, the city solicitor came up with a proposal to renovate city hall to separate politicians from staffers.

"We decided we're not going to expose any more of our workers to that possibility [of harassment]," Coun. Ann Marie Gillis told CBC News.

The cost of the renovations are outlined in a report heading to city council Monday. The separate staff areas would only be accessible by staff with key access.

"The thought of spending $70,000 just before we go into the budget, money that we desperately need as we try to keep the tax rate down in the city, it's just unnecessary spending," Bradley said. "We do not need a political wing at city hall."

Bradley has declared a conflict of interest in this issue and has not been involved in the planning process.