Council gives Stevenson 30-day suspension of pay [Video]

Coun. Susan Stevenson has been docked 30-days’ pay after an investigation by the Integrity Commissioner determined she bullied and harassed a senior city staffer.

On Tuesday, council accepted the findings of the Integrity Commissioner’s report that a social media post by Stevenson and her persistent questioning of Kevin Dickins, deputy city manager of Social and Health Development, constituted harassment in the workplace.

“What I got from the report, and what I have personally witnessed, I think I do see a pattern of bullying and harassment,” said Coun. Hadleigh McAlister.

However, determining the appropriate punishment sparked a lengthy debate in front of a public gallery full of Stevenson’s supporters and detractors.

Stevenson argued the investigation into the Code of Conduct complaint was unfair, and that council should consider options other than suspending her pay, “I’m encouraging my colleagues to come up with something that the Integrity Commissioner wasn’t able to put forward that would actually help us as a council and senior …