Council yet to discuss potential discipline after mayor’s public threat to suspend City of Kamloops staffer

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“Obviously, whenever the mayor is breaching privacy or confidentiality, that is an issue for us to be concerned about,” said Bass, “so yes, if we need to turn off the microphone for the mayor to stop him from basically breaking laws and legislation, then we do that. There is an obvious liability there because he is breaching privacy and breaching confidentiality – and that is not allowed.

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“He knows that. He is the champion of the Community Charter but apparently skips the parts he doesn’t like.”

Just before Tuesday’s meeting ended, Hamer-Jackson complained his microphone had previously been cut off when he asked councillors to provide him with their comments to external investigators who have looked into his conduct in city hall. Those include provincially appointed municipal advisers Peter Fassbender and Henry Braun, as well as Terry Honcharuk of the Integrity Group.

When Hamer-Jackson began mentioning investigators’ names, Mazzotta again asked for staff to cut his microphone, bringing the meeting to an abrupt conclusion.

Bass told CFJC Wednesday that council has not contemplated pursuing any further disciplinary action against Hamer-Jackson for his public threat to suspend Mazzotta.

“We have not discussed anything else. Frankly, I don’t think anything will stop what has been an ongoing attitude he has displayed toward our corporate officer when she is just doing her job,” said Bass in an email.

In March 2024, Hamer-Jackson suspended then-Acting CAO Byron McCorkell. The mayor justified the suspension, saying he didn’t like the direction the city was taking. The eight councillors unanimously voted to reinstate McCorkell two days later.

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Transcript of the Mayor’s Report portion of the Kamloops council meeting, Tuesday, July 14:

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson (RHJ): “My microphone has been getting cutting off and I found out it’s not a councillors’ resolution. It’s administration, so I’d like to make sure my microphone does not get cut off when I’m asking the council members a question. Corporate Officer Mazzotta, you were yelling at the IT department to shut my microphone off and that’s an administrative decision, from what I hear. I’ve been cut off at public engagements and I don’t want it to happen anymore. I don’t know if you know, but the mayor can suspend any municipal officer or employee in accordance with Section…”

Councillor Katie Neustaeter (KN): “Are you threatening our employees as we sit in this room after you read a civil discourse statement? Are you really threatening our employees that you will employ what you have in the past?”

RHJ, to Neustaeter: “You’re out of order. You’re out of order.”

KN: “I believe I am within order because you are breaking your own rules.”

RHJ: “The mayor must suspend a municipal officer or employee if the mayor considers [inaudible].”

KN: “The mayor must understand his job.”

RHJ, to Neustaeter: “Are you the one who approved my mic being shut off?”

KN: “No, but I absolutely understand and support why it would happen, and you’re demonstrating it right now.”

RHJ: “I’m telling you right now, at the time my mic got cut off, I wanted to ask all of you to provide me with the dialogue, the statements you gave to Peter Fassbender, Henry Braun, Terry Honcharuk and any other investigators.”

Corporate Officer Maria Mazzotta: “Please cut the mayor’s mic.”