The Quebec Municipal Commission has cited Westmount Mayor Michael Stern for breaching ethics rules and acting “disrespectful” and “uncivil” on several occasions towards staff. The July 13 ruling alleges that Stern broke two articles in the city’s code of conduct seven times. Stern told CTV News that he intends to contest the allegations. On May 22, he is alleged to have broken the code five times, including during a work meeting where he “behaved in a disrespectful and uncivil manner, using disrespectful language toward City employees,” according to the court document The document says he displayed similar behaviour on April 8 and 9. “During a working meeting with the Acting City Manager and the Director of Land Management, he behaved in a disrespectful and uncivil manner by using disrespectful language toward a senior staff member,” reads a description of his behaviour on April 8. On or around April 9, the ruling reads, he behaved similarly with the Acting Chief Executive Officer. The ruling says that he broke sections seven and eight of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Elected Municipal Officials of the City of Westmount. “Council members are prohibited from behaving in a way that undermines the honour and dignity of the office of elected officer,” the code’s section on “Honour and dignity” (seven) reads. Section eight relates to conflicts of interest. Stern said he takes the matter “very seriously” and that he has the “utmost respect” for the commission’s role and the ethics process. “I am a passionate person,” he said. “City Hall staff, our municipal council and I are working very hard to implement the change agenda I was elected on to improve the lives of Westmounters - and we will continue to do that.” It is not the first time Stern has been called out for his language. The Westmount mayor apologized in December after being caught on a hot mic saying “fuc--ng assho--” to a resident during a council meeting in November. It was the first meeting Stern presided over since being elected last year.
