The City of Stratford’s much maligned Respectful Workplace Policy will remain in place for now, though council has instructed staff to conduct a review of the policy.
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At Monday night’s meeting, council voted 9-2 against a motion put forward by Coun. Cody Sebben to suspend the policy but voted unanimously to review the policy, which has come under fire in recent months when some residents were banned from all municipal buildings and council meetings for three months.
Before the vote, several residents, including Ken Wood and Barb Shaughnessy — both of whom were banned until earlier this month — spoke in favor of Sebben’s motion. Robert Roth, a former journalist and council member in two Ontario communities, said the workplace policies are for “employees, not members of the general public.”
“When you demand respect you get contempt,” he added.
Shaughnessy’s husband Tim Forester took issue with the workplace policy statement that is read before every council meeting and said it’s the message of an authoritarian regime.
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“The workplace policy is dead,” he said.
Resident Jason Davis said no one in council chambers has made him feel unsafe, though he noted it’s important citizens not feel intimated and fearful.
“City staff feelings that they have are valid because they are theirs,” he said. “However, there needs to be checks and balances between their feelings and actions on behalf of the city.”
Coun. Mark Hunter said he could not support the motion because doing so would “willfully put (the city) in violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.”
“I don’t know why it’s so challenging to have to be respectful,” he continued. Hunter added that he would like to see a review of the policy, but he would not put it at a higher priority than other issues.
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Sebben’s proposal was first brought forward on July 5 — the same night Shaughnessy and Mike Sullivan, another banned resident, returned as delegates to council and voiced their support for the motion.
“Instead of encouraging engagement in the community, it’s (done) a lot to discourage it,” Sebben told the Beacon Herald at that time.
On Monday, Sebben said the issue isn’t that there is a policy but that the policy is not working.
“We have meetings that are being canceled,” he said. “We have a city council that cannot function.”
Coun. Geza Wordofa was the other council member who voted to suspend the policy.
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