Medicine Hat limits communication with resident to protect mental health of employees, refocus on improvements

“I’m disappointed and upset, I don’t even know where to start,” Frey told CHAT News in response to the letter.

“They dismiss what’s going on or they dismiss concerns, then they blame and then they shame and this letter is no different,” she added.

“Nowhere in there are they accountable and nowhere in there do they acknowledge that things are upsetting.”

The decision to limit communication with Frey will remain in place until the city develops an advanced safe workplace policy — a policy councillors said Monday was made necessary in response to a recent uptick in harassment from residents.

The new communication city policy towards Frey is the latest development in a series of complaints and communication between her and the City of Medicine Hat.

THREE REASONS

Mitchell gave a series of reasons for limiting Frey’s communication with the city in the letter.

The city manager first explained that staff have been spending too much time on Frey’s complaints.

“Over the past several months, you have submitted numerous inquires to City of Medicine Hat employees across the organization, many of which were accusatory and unconstructive,” City Manager Ann Mitchell wrote in the letter.

“We are confident stating that a dispropriate amount of time has been spent responding to your inquires,” Mitchell wrote.

“We have deemed it unreasonable to service this many requests from one individual as it is taking away valuable time to work on important initiatives and projects as directed by council.”

Mitchell then said when the city responds to Frey, the information that is passed on is framed to support her criticisms of Medicine Hat.

“We have observed on several occasions that the information we provide is subsequently shared in a peicemeal or incomplete manner to better support your claims of wrongdoing and your ongoing campaign to recall the mayor and compel an investigation from Municipal Affairs,” Mitchell wrote.

Instead of being able to build understanding and offer insight, the city said its responses are “frequently re-shaped to disparage our city council, employees, and organization.”

“We no longer feel obliged to respond to your queries as you have often demonstrated that you are not communicating in good faith.,” Mitchell added.

Lastly, Mitchell said Frey has misrepresented city council decisions and discussions.

Frey posted on Facebook that Coun. Shila Sharps requested “a review on closed meetings and that they be held regularly to make it easier on them.”

Mitchell pointed to the inaccuracy of the post, as Sharps had pushed that closed meetings not be scheduled instead.

‘REFOCUS OUR EFFORTS’

Mitchell said shielding city employees from Frey became a necessity.

“While we expect this decision will cause you further concern, we felt it necessary to both protect the mental health of our employees and refocus our efforts on productive activities that improve and progress our beautiful city,” Mitchell wrote.

Frey said that it’s increasingly difficult for the city to answer her questions.

“My questions are becoming harder for them,” she said.

Frey said she has sent about 20 emails in the past six months to city employees or members of council.

by Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

Medicine Hat limits communication with resident to protect mental health of employees, refocus on improvements

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