Former Stephenville councillor accuses mayor of bullying

Three town councillors have resigned in Stephenville since the beginning of the year and one of them now accuses the mayor of bullying and says the town council's "toxic culture" played a major part in his decision to step down.

Lenny Tiller resigned from council on Jan. 11, citing the need to care for his aging grandparents. However, he told Radio-Canada that while the need to care for his family remains the primary reason for his departure, the decision was also spurred by the "ridicule" he endured at the hands of Mayor Tom Rose.

"The man bullied me. There's no doubt about it. Bullied and degraded multiple, multiple times," said Tiller, who is a student aide at a school in St. George's.

"I work with kids every day, and one thing we say is, 'Always stand up to your bully and you'll be supported.' I left to try to find an avenue to stand up,and I feel that's what I'm doing."

Rose has called Tiller the council's "official opposition" because he repeatedly voiced concerns related to decisions and expenses made by the town and mayor, often related to the controversial sale of the Stephenville airport to the Dymond Group.

"After two years and a little bit of constant, constant, every time you say no, there's a meeting or there's, 'Why are you doing this? You're not the official opposition on council. There is no opposition to council.' It becomes taxing," Tiller said in an interview last week at his home in Stephenville.

"If I'm going to fight and get nowhere, it's better for me to step away from the table, look after my family while I still can, and hopefully in the future be able to go back when things are a bit better and there's not such a toxic culture being presented by certain individuals inside of council."

Mayor denies allegations

Rose, in a phone interview Tuesday following Tiller's comments, said the former councillor did not reference bullying when he resignedand cited only his family.

The mayor denied the bullying allegations.

"It wasn't toxic and when we have our public meetings, any councillor can speak," Rose said. "He actually didn't like being a councillor. And he resigned. He put his name on the ballot and then he resigned before his term was completed."

The three councillors to resign were the youngest on Stephenville town council.

Tracy Boland, who reopened the Arlims store last June, declined an interview request. When CBC/Radio-Canada attempted to interview Tristan Hulan, the other councillor to resign, he said he was travelling and unavailable.

Tiller said he doesn't believe the two other resignations are directly related to the work culture at town council.

Rose said he feels councillors are under a lot of pressure due to the airport project and the push to establish a new hydrogen and ammonia plant in the town.

"It takes its toll," Rose said in an interview last week.

Tiller said he feels "there's a lack of confidence within the public right now" given the disputes among councillors and the recent resignations.

"With the airport stuff especially the airport stuff and the World Energy stuff, people are not believing what they're being told anymore," Tiller said.

Twelve candidates, all male,are running in a byelection to fill the three vacant seats on council.

"If this was not a good environment, we'd have nobody running," said Rose at a council meeting Thursday, during which he highlighted Violence Prevention Month and said there is "no place" for bullying in Stephenville.

Residents will go to the polls March 6.

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