4 of 5 councillors in RM of Armstrong resign, citing toxic work environment, leadership issues
CBC
Four of the five councillors in a Manitoba rural municipality stepped down from office this week, with some blaming a toxic work environment and leadership problems.
The RM's interim chief administrative officer, Nancy Howell, confirmed in an email to CBC News that RM of Armstrong councillors Paul Humeny, Ted Sumka, Pat Stein and Brent Dziadek sent resignation letters on Tuesday.
That leaves Coun. Allen Pfrimmer and Reeve Kate Basford as the only remaining council members.
Dziadek told CBC the four councillors resigned Tuesday at the end of a council meeting, and felt resigning was "the correct decision."
"[We felt] there was an issue with the leadership and that this was the correct way to solve the problem," Dziadek said. "It was a very difficult decision."
He did not elaborate on the leadership issues within council, but said the resignations were made in the hopes of helping ensure a solid future for the RM.
Dziadek said right now, he's burnt out and deciding on what to do next.
In a written statement to CBC, former Coun. Pat Stein said she was saddened that "good council members that love to serve their community are forced to step down in order to put a [halt] to the toxic work environment."
Stein's statement did not say what made the workplace toxic, but raised concerns the council's code of conduct was not being adhered to.
She did not cite specific code violations, but said failure to adhere to it results in "a long, expensive and drawn-out process."
"If council would have continued in this manner, I feel it would not have been in the best interest for our RM," Stein said.
Stein said workplace toxicity began in 2022, "almost immediately" after the municipal election. In addition to the four councillors who resigned this week, eight RM employees have also quit in the past year, she said.
CBC has asked the municipality for information about employee resignations and total staff.
Basford, who was not at the Tuesday meeting, told CBC she's unclear why the councillors left, but acknowledged there have been problems in the RM.
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