A former Nanaimo manager has filed a human rights complaint saying he was wrongfully terminated while another fired manager is suing the city in B.C. Supreme Court.
Brad McRae, hired in fall 2016 by Nanaimo to serve as its first chief operations officer, worked with the city until Jan. 10 of this year.
“I want to go back to work,” he said Monday.
“My rights were violated under both the Human Rights Code and the Community Charter by the city holding a termination hearing in my absence after I was not cleared medically to attend,” he said in a statement.
Nanaimo lauded its hiring of McRae in a September 2016 statement, noting that he had served as chief administrative officer at nearby Lantzville, and also Lillooet. His job in Nanaimo included working on recommendations coming out of a core service review. “As part of our evolving corporate structure, a COO will work alongside our chief financial officer and provide support for our chief administrative officer as we move forward with city business,” Coun. Ian Thorpe said in the statement.
Lantzville Coun. Will Geselbracht added: “My only consolation in losing Brad McRae as Lantzville’s CAO is that the citizens of Nanaimo will be inheriting a top-flight individual to move the city’s agenda ahead in a positive manner.
“Brad is a very hands-on administrator who brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to his job. He has played an integral role in helping Lantzville Council to accomplish its strategic plan and has done so in a non-biased and professional manner.”
Meanwhile, Rod Davidson, Nanaimo’s former manager of bylaw regulation and security and parking, filed his case in B.C. Supreme Court on March 6, saying he lost his job on Sept. 7, 2017, without cause and without notice.
As a result, he has suffered the loss of his regular earnings, plus a loss to his pension. He had contributed to the municipal pension plan for more than 15 years in Penticton and continued with it when joining Nanaimo, the notice states.
Davidson was hired by the city Dec. 10, 2012. At the time of his firing, he was two-and-a-half months away from his five-year milestone with the city. That milestone meant that he would have reached his five best employment years, resulting in increased life-long pension benefits, his document stated. As well, he was nine months from his 60th birthday when he could have bridged to an unreduced pension based on his best five years with Nanaimo.
He is asking for damages for breach of contract, aggravated and special damages, and cost of the lawsuit.
No allegations have been proven. Nanaimo has not responded in court.
The City of Nanaimo is not commenting on either matter. City clerk Sheila Gurrie said in a statement that it is “unable to comment on personnel matters, or matters dealing with potential litigation.”
These actions come as Nanaimo’s top administrator, Tracy Samra, chief administrative officer, is on a leave that began in February. The city’s chief financial officer, Victor Mema, has been on leave since early March.
