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A St. Catharines councillor is under fire after sending a pornographic image in a email. The photo of a naked woman was sent to nearly 100 people including councillors, various news outlets and city staffers.
Councillor Andy Petrowski was scheduled to meet with the regional chair Tuesday morning, but was did not show up.
“Unfortunately there is a pattern of behaviour here that needs to be addressed and so I am hoping once and for all that pattern of behaviour stops and get on with all the other important businesses that we need to do here in Niagara.” said Mayor of Pelham Dave Augustyn.
“It is the non issue issues that are going on that have nothing to do with the region and should not be on our emails, our websites or be bothered with.” said regional councillor Tim Rigby.
Regional chair Alan Caslin called for Petrowski’s resignation hours after the email was sent Monday afternoon.
Attached to Petrowski’s reply to a city email regarding work on the Burgoyne Bridge was the graphic image.
Councillor Selina Volpatti says she was shocked to learn about the email and says Petrowski needs time away from his regional duties.
“I don’t want him back in this chamber unless he gets help. That will require a leave of absence and an admission by him that he needs help,” Volpatti said.
Petrowski apologized, saying the message was sent by someone who was using his iPad. But voters who pay for Petrowski’s $50,000 salary say he needs to go.
Provincial legislation doesn’t allow municipal councils to remove elected officials from their position.
This is not the first time Petrowksi has pointed the finger at someone else. Last year a text message that read “Hello clown are you a tyrant” was sent from Petrowski’s phone to Niagara Police Chief Jeff McGuire. Petrowski said someone else had gained access to his phone and wrote the message.
He declined to talk to CHCH News on camera today, but said he is working on a statement.
The meeting between Petrowski and Caslin has been rescheduled to Wednesday.
