Another side to Tay Valley Township councillor’s story

Re: Judging Judy, July 13.

Kelly Egan’s article depicts Tay Valley Township Coun. Judy Farrell as a kindly grandmother who is being harassed and bullied for speaking up for taxpayers. There is another side to this story.

An independent third-party investigator found Farrell guilty of harassing two employees over a period of 18 months. The investigator interviewed the two employees, Farrell and witnesses, both councillors and township staff.

He also reviewed written documents as well as audio and video recordings.

His conclusion was clear and unequivocal. The process was consistent with what is required under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The investigator provided Farrell with a written summary of the specific allegations before meeting her to hear her response.

All employers in Ontario have legal responsibilities under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. Farrell was asked to apologize to the two staff members she harassed and to take sensitivity training.

She refused.

To ensure a safe working environment, council had no choice but to place restrictions on Farrell, including her contact and communications with staff. These restrictions did not remove her responsibilities to represent citizens, attend council meetings or vote on township matters.

Some have wondered why the report is not available for citizens to read and make up their own mind about what happened.

Under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, the employer is required to keep the investigator’s report confidential to protect both the two employees and the witnesses.

However, Farrell was provided a written summary of the findings that pertain to her.

As of the end of May, the township had spent $186,000 on this case. If Farrell had respected the investigator’s report, the matter would have ended last November and the cost to taxpayers would have been substantially less.

The impact of her actions on the lives of the two employees and staff in general would also have been substantially less.

Kay Rogers and David Taylor, Tay Valley Township