Criticized city councillor Jim Handley will be without pay for 230 days, and will no longer be allowed to have any direct contact with city staff after an investigation by the city’s Integrity Commissioner found that he had breached multiple workplace- and council policies.
Earlier this week, ThoroldToday could report that 8 complaints had been filed against Handley in September over both internal communications, as well as inflammatory posts that Handley had made on social media criticizing the city, council decisions and Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which he equated to 'communism.'
On Tuesday night, law firm Aird & Berlis, appointed as the city’s Integrity Commissioner laid out their findings after having investigated Handley for the second time in a year, after multiple anonymous complaints had been filed against him.
Among the damning criticism against the councillor is a video, which he posted on Facebook on August 12, indicating that city staff was following him and tracking his social media and that streetlights would be turned off under strange circumstances when he appeared in public.
The investigation also found that Handley had inappropriately accepted moral support from far-right website Rebel News, after he was fined for attending an unsanctioned St Catharines anti-mask rally this spring.
At the Tuesday night meeting, several councillors expressed disappointment and frustration over Handley's conduct in the past year.
“I was completely shocked when I read this 35-page report,” said Coun. Victoria Wilson.
“It is disturbing to me what was in there.”
Coun. John Kenny stressed that Handley's conduct would reflect back on the city, with the municipal election at the door.
"There are several people in the community, good people, that could run for council, but have said they want no part of it."
Kenny put forward a motion to suspend Handley's pay until the end of the council term, however the motion did not receive any support.
Handley himself wasn't in attendance at the meeting.
"I stressed to him the importance of him being in attendance to address council in respect to the recommendations. Notwithstanding, the councillor indicated he was not going to attend," said commissioner Daria Peregoudova, who told council that Handley had said he had a prior family engagement.
"He also said that the result would be 'inevitable' so I will let that speak for itself.
The law firm stressed that it had no vested interest in the findings, and that the investigation was impartial and neutral, however Handley's responses both to them and on social media had indicated otherwise.
“It does appear that he is portraying himself as a victim in this process,” said Peregoudova.
"Even after our last report the councillor said things on social media like ‘this is what happens when you tell the truth.’ We know for a fact that there are other members of council who agree with Handley on certain issues, yet they don't get themselves in the same kind of trouble."
ThoroldToday has not been able to obtain comment from Handley.
In a local Facebook-group frequented by Handley, the veteran councillor said earlier this week that he was planning on making a statement in the near future to address the allegations.
In a separate post, Handley sought advice on where to retain legal council for filing documents with Canada’s Superior Court, however it was not clear what documents he was intending to file.
Councillors Anthony Longo, Fred Nealse and Carmen DeRose voted to push the decision on Handley’s fate to a separate meeting where he could be in attendance to defend himself.
The motion was defeated.
