Coun. Bill Dennis expelled from Sarnia budget deliberations after tirade

A profanity-laced tirade temporarily upended Sarnia city council budget deliberations Tuesday, before council settled on a 4.42 per cent levy increase.

Article content

Article content

Article content

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said he’ll take a day or two to consider whether to use his veto power to amend any council changes before the final budget is set.

“I don’t want to leave council and others waiting for that decision,” Bradley said.

About midway through discussions Tuesday on Sarnia’s now-$184.25-million operating expense plan — up about $4.7 million compared to 2024’s — Coun. Bill Dennis went on a tirade.

The advisor who’s been the subject of numerous integrity commissioner complaintshas had his pay dockedand is suing the city and CAO Chris Carterwas calling for a blanket 50-per-cent cut to what the city plans to spend on consultants in 2025.

Dennis, after being informed that’s about $1.6 million, about half of what Dennis estimated, accused Carter of not sharing the figures with Dennis when Dennis said he requested them on Sunday from Carter.

Article content

“You never got back to me, which has been very typical for you for the last six months,” said Dennis, who in a statement of claim seeking $200,000 accuses Carter of similar behavior — not answering inquiries Dennis makes on behalf of citizens — and alleges it’s aimed at harming Dennis’s re-election prospects.

The allegations in Dennis’s statement of claim have not been tested in court. The city and Carter have filed notices saying they intend to file statements of defense.

Dennis cast doubt on the accuracy of city records on consulting spending — about $2.2 million in 2024, staff said — and said it’s “rich” for the city to talk about efficiency after council said no to a recent $35,000 suggestion to retain a consultant to assess Progressive Auto Sales Arena.

Article content

Carter and city engineering and operations general manager David Jackson said it’s inefficient for Sarnia to employ staff long term instead of hiring consultants on a project-by-project, as-needed basis for specialized work.

Sarnia has budgeted an average of $53 million on capital work per year since 2021, versus $32 million on average from 2016 to 2020, and that leads to more consulting for projects, city officials said.

HAS similar debate about consulting costs resulted in similar answers two years ago.

Dennis had other views on Tuesday.

Amid calls from others on council for points of order, Dennis said senior staff employ consultants “because most of the senior staff isn’t from here and most don’t live here.”

Article content

That prompted more “point of order,” calls, and Dennis to call a group, presumably council, “a joke” and “nothing but a bunch of sellouts.”

Bradley told Dennis his behavior was unacceptable.

“And you being the mayor is unacceptable,” Dennis shouted back.

Coun. Adam Kilner addressed Bradley.

“You’re worshiping, this is inappropriate,” he said.

Dennis then said “you’re a joke,” to Kilner, a practicing minister.

“You’re a joke as a pastor. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Bradley again called Dennis’ unacceptable behavior, to which Dennis replied, “You know what, kiss my ass you drunk, you cokehead. F— off.”

More calls for order followed, Dennis accused Bradley of “cutting me down” while meeting with a city group, and responded “you’re inappropriate” when Bradley called his behavior inappropriate.

Article content

Amid multiple people talking over each other and Bradley calling for a break, Dennis called Bradley “a disgrace to the city” and “a damn crook,” accused him of “destroy(ing) this city,” and said Bradley is using his office “to hold me down because you’re terrified I’m going to beat you in the next election.”

The meeting, held virtually amid a hiatus for in-person meetingssummarized about half an hour later and Dennis wasn’t present.

Council pared back capital spending about $500,000 to $56.3 million for 2025, and boosted some revenue projections to end up at $184.25 million in operating expenses.

The levy, if Bradley doesn’t make changes, would cost homes inside of Sarnia’s transit levy area another $45.72 for every $100,000 in assessment, city officials said.

Article content

It would be $42.16 per $100,000 of assessment outside the transit area.

Bradley has 10 days to veto council budget changes via Sarnia’s strong mayor system, granted through the province as part of the city’s housing target commitment.

Bradley thanked the rest of council after deliberations for their respect and integrity.

“You showed how it is supposed to be done,” he said.

He’s never had to expel someone from council in 36 years as mayor, and never wanted to, he said.

“But I cannot let this continue,” he said.

‘It’s just not fair to the public. It’s not fair to council.”

Council meetings late last year and early this year were brought to a close early after outbursts from Dennis caused them to derail, and makeup meetings had to be scheduled to finish city business.

Article content

Below council’s rules of order an expelled member must apologize before retaking their seat at any meeting.

The cost for integrity commissioner complaints and an ongoing workplace harassment investigation at city hall are costing taxpayers, Bradley said.

Bradley declined, when asked, to respond to any of Dennis’ accusations.

“His comments are going to be reviewed and appropriate actions will be taken at the reviewing,” Bradley said.

Dennis has said he’s the subject of a workplace harassment complaint at city hall, linked to an argument with Carter over Dennis’s approach to bringing citizen concerns to city staff.

Council hasn’t met in person since May and has been meeting by teleconference instead.

[email protected]

Article content