The Cochrane Town councillor who tried to introduce whistleblower legislation a few of weeks ago but had her motion defeated at least partially because other councillors deemed it an unnecessary expense has now become the target of a taxpayer-funded investigation into her conduct.
On Aug. 29 a Town of Cochrane employee brought a complaint against Coun. Marni Fedeyko, alleging inappropriate, harassing behaviour in violation of the Town’s Code of Conduct 12/2018 section 8.2.
In a special closed session on Oct. 2, Cochrane Town Council found Fedeyko in violation of the Code, and she has been informed by CEO Mike Derricott that if she wants to contact any Town employees from now on, she must submit a request to him.
Now she wants administration to come clean and make the investigation report public (she was found in breach of the code), along with a full accounting for the cost to taxpayers. The legal firm hired by the Town is at taxpayers’ expense. Fedeyko has to pay for her lawyer out of her own pocket.
The independent investigator hired by the Town came with an as yet undisclosed expense.
It’s just one aspect of the affair that has Fedeyko steamed, and an expense she says she can’t afford.
In an interview with The Eagle just prior to the council meeting Oct. 7, Fedeyko maintained the entire affair doesn’t change much, other than costing the Town money. There were no further sanctions issued on Oct. 2.
Fedeyko does not admit her guilt, and called the whole process “frivolous.”
It’s not the first time she’s been investigated.
“(It’s) certainly not something serious that demanded a code of conduct complaint to even be made. I mean, this is stuff that passes off as almost high school type of behaviour and these investigations are not cheap,” she said.
“I have asked Mr. Derricott for that amount to be released again. I believe taxpayers have a right to know. I have been legally represented since April of 2023. As I've gone through multiple investigations that the town has placed on me and I can tell you my legal bills are not cheap.”
“The Town uses taxpayer money and I am on my own. I am probably in debt over $65,000 right now,” she said. Those are her legal bills going back to April 2023.
Fedeyko maintains her innocence.
“I have to use my own funds to deal with allegations. And I say allegations because I am going to tell you right now I am not admitting guilt to. Rolling of eyes and abusing people or being described as somebody violently bullying . . . If I roll my eyes in town hall chambers, I am not the only person in council chambers, and if somebody perceived the action to be at them, that is their perception, not what I was trying to do, to intimidate somebody,” she said.
“That's not even close to who I am or what I stand for personally or professionally.”
Following the Oct. 2 session, Coun. Susan Flowers moved to find Fedeyko in breach of Section 8.2.
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 censure 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.”
A third motion by Coun. Patrick Wilson looked to make 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.
Meanwhile Fedeyko said she feels like she’s been targeted by certain council members and the administration.
“I feel under attack. Absolutely I do. It's been a long run. I feel these people have done whatever they can to limit my ability to talk to anyone and they just want me to be quiet and I'm not going to be quiet. I'm not going to be silent. I work for the people. I don't work for Mr. Derricott. I don't work for the mayor and I don't work for council. I work for the people that elect me and I will continue to do my job,” she said.
