Essex town council votes to suspend Voakes’ pay
Integrity commissioner penalizes councillor for ‘aggressive’ behaviour
Essex town council voted Tuesday night to suspend Coun. Randy Voakes’ pay for two months on the recommendation of the town’s integrity commissioner — who had a police escort to leave the meeting — and Voakes was asked to leave the tense meeting by Mayor Ron McDermott.
The ongoing battle between Voakes and the other members of council was the subject of an 84-page report brought to council by integrity commissioner Robert Swayze, who concluded Voakes was guilty of “aggressive and bullying ” behaviour.
The recommendation came after the mayor and all four other council members submitted code of conduct complaints about Voakes.
It’s not the first time Voakes, who has been on council since 2003, has been the subject of an investigation by Swayze. In August 2016, his pay was suspended for a month after the commissioner identified Voakes as the cause of problems plaguing council.
“It means that he has alienated all of you,” Swayze told council, noting that he is integrity commissioner for more than 20 municipalities and each one of them have codes of conduct that set rules for decorum, language and overall conduct.
“Everyone wants Mr. Voakes to stop what he is doing,” Swayze said.
“He uses vulgar language, storms out of meetings.”
Swayze recommended the suspension of Voakes’ pay for two months — equalling about $4,000 — because he is limited in what punishment he can mete out.
“I’m concerned the business of council is not proceeding as it should, and it’s because of Coun. Voakes,” Swayze said.
“This is very serious and I have to do something. The only power I have is to recommend that a penalty be imposed. This has to stop in order for council to get on with its business.”
After Swayze spoke, McDermott asked if there was any discussion, and after no councillor spoke up, proceeded to the vote. But after the vote, Voakes asked if he could ask Swayze a question, and was denied.
“This issue is finished,” McDermott told Voakes. Voakes then persisted. “Does council deem me to be nobody?” Voakes said, indicating that he wanted to know if he could appeal. “I can’t believe you’re not going to let me speak to Mr. Swayze.”
McDermott replied: “You’re going to leave the meeting. I am asking that this meeting be adjourned until this gentleman (Voakes) leaves the meeting.”
About two dozen supporters of Voakes then rose in the gallery and began shouting and walking out of the chamber.
“You guys are all disgraceful,” said one man.
“You guys are a joke,” shouted another.
McDermott then approached Swayze in the chamber and told him he would be provided an escort from the building. Voakes then left the chamber and addressed his supporters in the lobby. “For everybody who came out and supported me, I thank you,” said Voakes. “I don’t think what happened to me was fair. They took my voice away.
“You haven’t heard the end of Randy Voakes.”
As Voakes was speaking to his supporters just outside the doors of the council chambers two Essex OPP officers arrived to escort Swayze from the chamber.