Windsor’s settlement with former engineer prompts call for mayor’s resignation

Mohamed Chams seen in front of Windsor City Hall in Windsor, Ont. on Nov. 15, 2025. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)

The City of Windsor’s settlement with a former senior administrator in a wrongful termination lawsuit has prompted a call for the mayor’s resignation.

Windsor businessman Mohamed Chams feels the ‘careless decision’ that led to the lawsuit is enough reason for Drew Dilkens to step down.

The city settled with former engineer Chris Nepszy, but neither side appears willing to share the settlement details.

“It’s not a mistake, it’s not an error, it’s [an] actual careless decision. Therefore, the taxpayers should know exactly what happened, why it happened,” Chams told CTV News.

Chams, who last ran in the 2018 municipal election and lost, said the lack of details from the settlement shows a lack of accountability and transparency.

He took to social media following the announcement of the settlement to call for the mayor to “step down.”

“Obviously, the settlement proves whatever was done was absolutely incorrect, so now that cost us,” Chams told CTV News Windsor.

After the city let Nepszy go, allegedly without severance, he filed a $1.5 million suit in April 2024, per the Statement of Claim.

He had previously spent about two years on the job before Dilkens used Strong Mayor powers to fire him in November 2023.

As part of the lawsuit, Nepszy alleged a “culture of corruption” at city hall, where he was coerced into misusing public funds.

The City of Windsor has denied the allegations.

With the lawsuit settled behind closed doors, Chams questions how “corruption” is impacting decision-making at city hall.

“If you’re employed by City of Windsor, I want to make sure they have that freedom available to them to speak out and be comfortable that the mayoral powers are not going to be used to shut you up and or lose your job,” Chams told CTV News.

Dilkens was “unavailable” to answer questions about the settlement Thursday, including whether Windsor paid Nepszy.

Chams feels public pressure on the mayor to resign would “set the tone” for future elected officials to be accountable for their actions.

“We deserve an answer because we paid that money, the taxpayer paid that lawsuit out with litigation fees, lawyer fees, and everything else that comes with it. And what else are we paying for? Answer to us. You promised us [accountability], and I’m just asking you to do what you promised,” Chams said.

Voters will head to the polls for the next municipal elections on Oct. 26, 2026.