In a special closed session on Oct. 2, Cochrane Town Council found Cochrane Coun. Marni Fedeyko in violation of the Cochrane Code of Conduct.
Following the session, Coun. Susan Flowers moved to find Coun. Fedeyko in breach of the Town of Cochrane Code of Conduct 12/2018 section 8.2. This is in relation to a code of conduct complaint that was submitted on Aug. 29.
The category covers Respectful Interactions with Council Members, Staff, the Public and Others. Section 8.2 outlines that “Members shall treat one another, employees of the Municipality and members of the public with courtesy, dignity and respect and without abuse, bullying or intimidation.”
A second motion by Coun. Alex Reed looked for council to read a motion of census for the official record.
“As a consequence of the occupational health and safety complaint filed by an employee, in relation to allegations of inappropriate and harassing conduct directed to the employee by Coun. Fedeyko, the Town was required to commission a mandatory investigation into the allegations,” Reed said. “The investigation report was completed and received on June 24, 2024. The report outlined an inappropriate and sustained pattern of harassing behaviour which occurred over a period of more than a year.
“Council is disappointed in this behaviour and the impact it had on staff, and with the unnecessary allocation of resources both in time, energy, and in direct costs. As a result of Coun. Fedeyko’s behaviour, the municipality was exposed to unnecessary risk.”
Reed continued into the reading, outlining that Cochrane Town Council is committed to ensuring a safe and respectful work environment.
“It is expected that Coun. Fedeyko will cease the inappropriate behaviours immediately, and conduct herself in compliance with the code of conduct bylaw and appropriate workplace decorum,” he said. “Council believes that it is in the best interests of the public to have this information, to allow them to evaluate council Fedeyko’s behaviour in their own validity.”
A third motion by Coun. Patrick Wilson looked to bring a copy of the report available for the public.
“Following confirmation by legal counsel, council direct administration to make publicly available; a copy of the health and safety investigative report, relative to code of conduct violations subject to such redactions as may be required by law,” he said.
All three motions were carried with unanimous votes.
Following the meeting, Coun Fedeyko made a post on X, outlining she is disappointed in the decision, adding that this is an effort to silence her and that she will not be intimidated from doing her job for Cochrane residents.
“This decision was arrived without evidence and is over trivial matters such as literally an allegation that I rolled my eyes at someone,” she wrote. “This morning, I received a letter from the town's Chief Administrative Officer demanding that I continue to not interact with town employees. No councillor should be restricted from doing their job like this.
“This process is an effort to silence a voice for transparency, openness, and accountability. Cochrane residents deserve to be heard and antics like this are a step entirely in the wrong direction.”
Fedeyko outlined that this will be her final comment on the issue, and outlined that a media conference will be announced in the near future.
