More fireworks in the town of Essex after councilor Randy Voakes breaks decorum.
Councilor Randy Voakes was ejected from Tuesday night's town council meeting by Mayor Ron McDermott.
Integrity Commissioner Robert Swayze had just delivered his ruling to council. Voakes will not be paid for the next two months in response to Code of Conduct infractions brought forward by five members of council.
Voakes was asking if he could appeal the ruling after the report had already been received, which is not allowed, according to McDermott.
The Mayor told AM800 News — not being heard would have been the least of Voakes' problems — addressing a monetary matter he's involved in would be a conflict of interest.
"Had he asked his question before the vote I would have allowed it, I would have had to," he says. "The big thing is he could have lost his position as a council member ... I saved his job."
.@EssexON Mayor Ron McDermott says Councillor Randy Voakes questioning 2 months without pay ruling would have cost him his job. #cklw pic.twitter.com/WnBsMmfzAC
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) September 6, 2017
When Voakes refused to leave McDermott suspended the meeting.
Several supporters of Voakes accosted members of council as they left the room.
.@EssexON Counicllor Randy Voakes ejected from meeting for not following protocol, several supporters left shouting at council. #cklw pic.twitter.com/4hPGAF7jRo
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) September 5, 2017
Voakes still contested he should have been heard by council as he addressed a group of supporters just outside council chambers.
"You can feel how somewhere inside yourself and in your spirit, you have that disgruntlement and you want to be heard, and they walk away from you," Voakes says. "I wanted to know if I could appeal it, and what was this report going to cost the tax payers."
McDermott stands by his decision to remove Voakes.
"He will not stop, rules don't abide to him. You get one warning, one more word and you'll be removed," says McDermott. "It doesn't matter who it is, but there's the mayor picking on councilor Voakes again."
OPP walking Integrity Commissioner Robert Swayze through the crowd assembled outside EssexON Council Chambers. #cklw pic.twitter.com/uJVa3yb38z
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) September 5, 2017
The integrity commissioner was escorted from the building by police.
Voakes will be allowed to attend the next council meeting.