ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — After more than eight months on paid leave, Steve Kent is no longer the top bureaucrat at the City of Mount Pearl.
The now former chief administrative officer (CAO) was placed on leave in October 2019 because of a harassment investigation into allegations about his workplace conduct, including allegations of mocking subordinates in front of other staff, berating workers verbally and making comments about job security that were perceived to be intimidating.
When The Telegram inquired about the status of the harassment investigation at the end of April, a city spokesperson said Kent was paid $122,672.52 up to that point since he went on leave Oct. 2.
On Thursday, both Kent and the city issued news releases.
The city said Kent was notified on June 16 of a motion to dismiss him for just cause — a motion that was set to be presented at the city council meeting on June 30.
The city said reasons given to Kent included numerous breaches under the employee code of conduct policy and “serious allegations of misconduct.” The city said these allegations are outside of the ongoing harassment investigation.
“Mr. Kent was offered an opportunity to be heard by council on Friday, June 26 and answer to the allegations, but has not yet responded and has instead tendered his resignation,” reads the city’s brief news release, which concluded with a statement that the city would have more to say “in the coming days.”
Kent to sue
Kent’s news release was much longer. It alleges he uncovered “many problems” during his tenure as CAO, but he did not provide details, citing respect for confidentiality.
He stated he was surprised last year when he learned an investigation had been launched.
“I came to learn in the weeks that followed that a disgruntled former employee, the city’s union leadership, and even the mayor and deputy mayor themselves, had been working behind the scenes to discredit and stonewall me,” reads Kent’s news release.
“On the night of Oct. 1, 2019, Mayor (Dave) Aker and Deputy Mayor (Jim) Locke escorted me out of the building.”
Kent said it took him two months to get access to any information about the complaints, and he is still fighting for access to enough information to respond. He said he filed a formal complaint in January with the province’s privacy commissioner, but has not yet received a decision.
However, the union representing City of Mount Pearl workers, CUPE Local 2099, takes issue with the release of such information.
"City employees have repeatedly accessed my private Facebook messages from the iPad I left behind when I went on leave, even though I had logged out and changed my password." — Steve Kent
“Why did the city have the investigator reach out to ask whether it was OK to release the original complaints to Mr. Kent and then proceed to do so voluntarily with no court order, even after the complainant denying this request for permission?” the union wrote in a letter to city council on June 9.
“Why did the city choose not to notify the complainant that this was going to happen, despite a commitment from the investigator that the complainant would be notified before this would happen?
“Would the city also agree that releasing a document filed confidentially to protect the identity of complainants and possible unwilling victims is a violation of the privacy of those individuals?”
Kent stated in his news release that he has been mistreated for eight months, and it’s now gotten worse.
“Recently, I learned that my privacy has been actively breached along with that of many others. City employees have repeatedly accessed my private Facebook messages from the iPad I left behind when I went on leave, even though I had logged out and changed my password. They have been looking at the private messages between myself and my family, my friends, fellow residents of Mount Pearl and others.
“If you have ever communicated with me through Facebook, it’s quite possible that the mayor, the deputy mayor, and other members of city council and certain city staff members have seen our discussion. Therefore, I feel obligated to advise you today that your privacy may have been breached as well.”
Kent said his relationship with the city has been “irreparably harmed” and he therefore considers his employment contract to be repudiated. He said he will file a statement of claim and will sue “those involved” for constructive dismissal and breach of privacy.
Twitter: @juanitamercer_
