Mayor Michael Stern of Westmount announced that he will formally contest accusations that he used disrespectful language toward municipal executives and staff. The challenge will be presented to the Quebec Municipal Commission, the body responsible for reviewing ethics complaints involving local officials.
The complaint, filed with the Commission municipale du Québec, alleges that Stern made remarks deemed disrespectful to municipal employees and senior officials. Details of the alleged statements have not been disclosed publicly, and the mayor has not provided a comment on the substance of the accusations beyond his intention to defend himself.
Stern’s decision to address the matter before the commission follows standard procedure for ethics complaints in Quebec. The commission’s role is to assess whether the conduct in question breaches the province’s municipal ethics code and to determine any appropriate remedial actions.
The upcoming hearing will allow both the complainant and the mayor’s representatives to present evidence and arguments. The commission’s findings will be made public in accordance with its mandate, and any conclusions could affect the mayor’s standing within the municipal administration.
Westmount’s council and staff continue their regular duties while the ethics review proceeds. The municipality has not released a statement on the pending case, and no timeline for the commission’s decision has been announced.
The case underscores the procedural mechanisms in place for handling allegations of misconduct against elected officials in Quebec. It also highlights the importance of the ethics commission’s oversight role in maintaining standards of conduct within municipal government.