Darryl Harding again booted from Portugal Cove-St. Philip's town council

A municipal leader in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's with a reputation for stirring things up has again been booted from the town council.

CBCNews has confirmed that council voted 4-2 during Tuesday's regular meeting to suspend Darryl Harding without pay for three months, and to seek approval from the courts to have Harding's seat vacated.

Mayor Carol McDonald, who acts as official spokesperson for the town council, was unavailable for an interview on Wednesday. However, she confirmed in a brief telephone conversation that council took action following an investigation by an external consultant.

Harding is being sanctioned for "disrespect and behaviours" toward town employees and other elected members of council, said McDonald.

The mayor and councillors Dave Bartlett, Tina Neary andGavin Will supported the motion to suspend Harding, while Deputy Mayor Madonna Stewart-Sharpe and Coun. Cyril Hayden voted against.

A detailed voice message left by CBC News on Harding's cellphone has not been returned.

A town councillor in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's is paid remuneration of roughly $18,000, paid quarterly.

The town has an annual operating budget of roughly $12 million, and has roughly 3,400 households.

• Portugal Cove-St. Philip's councillor sues town for seat after harassment and GoFundMe controversies

It's the second time that Harding has been suspended without pay from the town council.

Harding was suspended from council committees in February 2023 after allegations of harassment or sexual harassment were brought to an external investigator.

A month later, another investigation determined Harding hadbreached the town's code of conduct for soliciting donations from local residents through an online crowdfunding campaign after he was injured in a car crash.

Both suspensions were for three months, and Harding sued the town to have the suspensions overturned.

Harding also made headlines during the Jan. 29 byelection in Conception Bay East-Bell Island when he unsuccessfully ran as an Independent after a high-profile falling out with the provincial Progressive Party and its leader, Tony Wakeham.

Harding received 70 votes in the byelection, or 1.2 per cent of all ballots cast.

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