Kamloops mayor says he had ‘no intention’ to threaten, suspend employee

The mayor of Kamloops said he had no plans to suspend a top city employee when he reminded council it’s a power at his disposal last week.

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson told the city’s corporate officer he did not want his mic cut off anymore, then attempted to recite legislation that empowers him to temporarily remove her from the job.

He was called out by a fellow city councillor during the meeting for threatening corporate officer Maria Mazzotta and subsequent news coverage described it as such, including iNFOnews.ca.

He contacted iNFOnews.ca several times since to assert he had “no intention” of threatening her, adding that he wanted it “on record” that it wasn’t a threat because he’s “sure it’s going to end up in a courtroom somewhere.”

When asked why he mentioned it at all if not to threaten a suspension, he couldn’t provide a clear explanation.

“I don’t have to convince you, I’m telling you. You will not change my mind. I didn’t threaten anybody with suspension,” he told iNFOnews.ca.

Mazzotta has directed IT to turn off Hamer-Jackson’s microphone in the past and, before demanding investigation records from city councillors, he demanded she not do so again at the July 14 council meeting. She typically, if not always, does so when she determines Hamer-Jackson is putting the city in legal jeopardy.

“Corporate officer Mazzotta, you were yelling at IT to shut my microphone off… I’ve been cut off at public engagements and I don’t want it to happen anymore. I don’t know if you know, but the mayor can suspend any municipal officer or employee,” he said during the meeting.

It was at that moment he was cut off by Coun. Katie Neustaeter, who asked if he was threatening Mazzotta with suspension as he’d done to CAO Byron McCorkell in the past.

When reached for comment, Mazzotta said she was “authorized by the administration” to cut Hamer-Jackson’s microphone if he is revealing confidential information.

“I also advised him that I hope it’s unnecessary for me to do so in the future,” she said in an emailed response.

She did not comment when asked whether she perceived Hamer-Jackson’s statement as a threat.

Speaking with iNFOnews.ca, Hamer-Jackson said he was merely reading from the Community Charter and he would be “an idiot” to expect enough councillors would support a suspension.

“I just wanted to let it be clear, not just her, anybody that—it’s the Community Charter. It says the mayor must (suspend) if he feels it necessary. Why would I suspend her? Think about it… What would be the point? You need two-thirds of council,” Hamer-Jackson said when asked why he brought up the power to suspend at all.

As it happens, council barred him from suspending several city employees in 2024, including the corporate officer.

But, councillors are concerned that such a threat, especially one made publicly, could put the city at risk.

City councillor and deputy mayor for July, Dale Bass, said she didn’t know whether Hamer-Jackson’s comments to Mazzotta could risk a constructive dismissal lawsuit, but she said the city is fortunate Mazzotta “has way more patience than some of us on council” with the mayor.

“I do know that when you are disrespectful to senior staff, denigrate them, say they don’t know what they’re doing, criticize the way they do their job and do it all publicly, that’s not a good thing for us as council or for the corporation,” Bass said.

She added that there’s agreement among councillors that Hamer-Jackson breached the their code of conduct on July 14, but it’s unlikely anyone will file a complaint. That’s in part due to costs, which have already amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on investigations, and because it wouldn’t be done until after the October election.

“Not worth doing, not worth the expense, not worth the aggravation,” she said. “It’s just not worth it.”