Latest news with #cityCouncil
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Council expands list of municipal service reductions considered for budget savings
Council has directed city staff to prepare three additional business cases about potential service reductions for consideration during 2026 budget deliberations
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sunnyside city manager on leave after harassment complaint against councilwoman
Sunnyside City Manager Mike Gonzalez was placed on a 30-day paid administrative leave while the city conducts an internal investigation into an escalating feud with a city council member. Gonzalez was the economic development manager in Pasco from June 2021-March 2023 before leaving to become Franklin County administrator. He led the county for about a year before leaving during a criminal investigation of elected officials. The Sunnyside City Council met in a study session on June 2 and voted 5-2 to place Gonzalez on leave. The decision seemed to be related to a dispute with Councilwoman Theresa Hancock, who has been accused of harassment by Gonzalez and at least one other city staff member. 'This has been a witch hunt from the very beginning. And it's been orchestrated by Councilwoman (Theresa) Hancock,' Gonzalez told the council. The contentious public meeting saw several community members levy accusations of racism, leading to Mayor Dean Broersma nearly recessing the meeting. Many raised concerns about Hancock's past behavior, while several others defended her. According to the Sunnyside Sun, Gonzalez filed a human resources complaint against Councilwoman Theresa Hancock on May 11, accusing her of harassment and creating a hostile work environment. Hancock served on Sunnyside City Council from 2005-2017 and was reappointed in March. In Gonzalez's complaint, he detailed a series of alleged incidents since Hancock's appointment, including accusations of harassment, surveillance, undermining administrative procedures, hostility during meetings, disruption of city operations and defamation. The complaint came a few weeks before Irving Brown Sr., Sunnyside's human resources manager, filed a protection order against Councilwoman Theresa Hancock, accusing her of harassment and racism. Brown told the Tri-City Herald last week that Hancock has been targeting him and Gonzalez and wants them both fired. He reports that there is video footage of Hancock outside Sunnyside City Hall behaving in a threatening manner. Brown was a Pasco council member in July 2022. He started working for Sunnyside in February. He lives in Pasco and is the president of NAACP Tri-Cities. Fire Chief Cameron Haubrich will serve as acting city manager. The Sunnyside City Council will appoint an interim city manager during a special meeting on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Playground changes coming across Calgary, met with opposition in one S.W. neighbourhood
The neighbourhood playground is a staple of childhood, but one such place in the southwest has turned into battleground between residents and the city.
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Hamtramck city manager placed on leave amid tense city council meeting
Hamtrack's city manager was placed on administrative leave Tuesday amid a tense city council meeting to discuss the suspension of Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri. During the hours-long meeting, which was expected to discuss whether to reinstate Altaheri, the council voted to suspend City Manager Max Garbarino while an investigation is ongoing. The investigation stems from allegations that Altaheri abused his power, resulting in Garbarino announcing the suspension of the police chief and an officer. On Friday, Garbarino said he received credible evidence of serious allegations involving city leaders and has taken "appropriate and responsible steps to address credible allegations of illegal and unethical conduct within our police department and among elected officials." Several community members spoke at Tuesday's meeting before it became heated as Ghalib and Garbarino exchanged words. "How do you feel that you deprived him (Altaheri) of staying here to defend himself and to make things clear for the public, but you ask for your right to defend yourself right now, and you took like 20 minutes?" said Ghalib. "Across the whole nation, if you're suspected of this, you are put on administrative leave. This is how this works," Garbarino said. The next council meeting is scheduled for June 10. In a statement provided to CBS News Detroit last week, Altaheri said, "I call on the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, State Police and FBI to follow up on these false accusations and all those behind these fabricated stories."
CTV News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Councillor's refusal to apologize renews concern about deteriorating civility in council chambers
Debates are expected and arguments are not uncommon, but a tense standoff between a pair of city councillors on Thursday was the latest example of the deteriorating decorum during committee meetings. The Budget Committee was debating a motion by Coun. Susan Stevenson and Coun. Paul Van Meerbergen seeking more information about the costs to install and maintain future bike lanes. Coun. Skylar Franke explained that the information is readily available to councillors without requiring a formal motion and was recently considered when Council approved the Mobility Master Plan (MMP). 'If we are looking for savings, we do see that there is a much more heavy burden (on taxpayers) from car infrastructure,' Franke argued. Van Meerbergen pushed back against Franke's suggestion. 'When you listen to some of the previous rhetoric trying to make the point that roads and cars cost more than bikes, you've really got to give your head a shake,' he said. 'It borders on the nonsensical when you hear some of these arguments. We need a better road system.' 052325_Van Meerbergen councillor city of London File - Councillor Paul Van Meerbergen in council chambers (CTV News London) Budget Chair Elizabeth Peloza halted Van Meerbergen after Franke objected. 'Calling my comments nonsensical is offensive, and I would appreciate an apology,' asserted Franke. But Van Meerbergen would not apologize. 'If you check the record, you'll see that I stated 'borders on the nonsensical'. I did not state the name of anybody, and I'll leave it at that,' he countered. Franke again demanded an apology, 'I do not engage in rhetoric. I share my feelings and opinions, and I do it without trying to offend anyone.' Van Meerbergen replied, 'Like the other councilor, I too engage in rhetoric. She engages in rhetoric all the time, to make these equivalencies between the cycling system and the road system.' After several tense minutes, Franke decided the budget meeting was more important than pressing the issue with Van Meerbergen. 052325_budget meeting London city councillor skylar franke Counciller Skylar Franke during the Budget Committee meeting on May 23 (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London) 'In the interest of saving time for this committee. I will retract my request for an apology,' she stated. 'But I would hope that other members of council would see fit to choose their words wisely.' Shortly after the tense exchange, Stevenson lamented the deteriorating level of respect during debates. 'The diversity of opinion and thought is not something that I'm finding is here enough, as much as I would like to see it' she told colleagues. Stevenson and Van Meerbergen's motion was defeated (4-10). After the meeting, Peloza acknowledged the deteriorating decorum in council chambers and its impact on decision-making. 'If you really want an efficient meeting, choose your words wisely,' she advised. 'Some people perhaps prefer controversy, which might result in media coverage by several (news) outlets, which just leads to things being less efficient.' A year-and-a-half still remains in this council's term. 'When we share this space, the public is watching,' Peloza added. 'It's really important to hold ourselves to a (level) of decorum and professionalism that Londoners require of us.' The next meeting of the budget committee is June 11.
