Nanaimo council is expected to go behind closed doors Wednesday to discuss results of an investigation into workplace complaints by chief administrative officer Tracy Samra and next steps.
The move comes after a link to a video of an alleged physical assault of Samra by former city councillor Wendy Pratt was sent to the media on Monday with a news release that shared information about the investigation and an incident where Samra was allegedly assaulted by Pratt.
Pratt earlier this year, triggering a byelection. ItB次元官网网址檚 unclear who sent the news release, but it came just days after city council received an in-camera report July 26 from consultants hired by the city to investigate SamraB次元官网网址檚 workplace complaints.
The work by consultant Roslyn Goldner began after Samra was allegedly physically assaulted, according to the news release which quotes Samra as saying she filed a complaint after the Feb. 27 incident B次元官网网址渟o there would be a mechanism for this to stop and to get Mayor [Bill] McKay to stop targeting me.B次元官网网址�
The news release also claims the consultant confirmed the conduct of McKay and councillors Diane Brennan and Wendy Pratt has created a hostile work environment for the CAO which cannot be confirmed as the report remains in-camera.
McKay denied that heB次元官网网址檚 targeted Samra and said the releaseB次元官网网址檚 comments about his and councillors conduct is inaccurate.
He also said, of the video, that heB次元官网网址檇 suggest there was a much larger meeting that took place and itB次元官网网址檚 not known what happened before and after the seven seconds. He had not been at the meeting where the video was taken.
B次元官网网址淭he alleged assault has been reviewed by the RCMP and the crown prosecutor and itB次元官网网址檚 my understanding the case is closed so releasing it at this time seems odd to me,B次元官网网址� he said.
Coun. Gord Fuller said he believes the consultantB次元官网网址檚 whole report should be released, but that everybody involved, including the initiator and respondent, must agree and he claims the respondents have not agreed.
Fuller said he was a B次元官网网址渓ittle bit disappointedB次元官网网址� in the results of the investigation.
B次元官网网址淚 believe the person doing the report came to a different definition of bullying and harassment and wasnB次元官网网址檛 really looking at our policy per se,B次元官网网址� he said, adding if details are released, people can make their own decision.
Samra also said in the release that she made B次元官网网址渦nprofessional commentsB次元官网网址� that were overheard outside the boardroom when the consultantB次元官网网址檚 report was released to council last week.
B次元官网网址淚 apologize to those who heard my remarks,B次元官网网址� she said.
According to Victor Mema, deputy CAO, complaints have been made by city staff to the human resources about SamraB次元官网网址檚 comments and those complaints are being reviewed and investigated by human resources. He could not say what SamraB次元官网网址檚 comments were because the matter is currently being looked into.
Fuller and McKay both confirmed council is expected to discuss the report and next steps at an in-camera meeting tomorrow.
B次元官网网址淭here was stuff that was recommended in the report and then we will make further recommendations if need be,B次元官网网址� said Fuller, whoB次元官网网址檇 like to see a public apology, at the minimum, from McKay and others.
Samra did not return requests for an interview and has been on medical leave since last Wednesday. The release says she expects to remain on leave while council considers the report findings and what steps can be taken to address the B次元官网网址渢oxic work environment.B次元官网网址�
