Metchosin Mayor John Ranns has officially apologized to Metchosin resident Terry Wilson for calling him a bully two years ago.
"It's been a long time coming," said Wilson, who acknowledged he had spent "a fair amount" in legal fees but said he was satisfied with the apology.
"I wasn't going to wear that for the rest of my life. It's that simple. There's a lot of things you can hang on people but I won't have that hung on me."
Ranns read out a public statement at Monday's council meeting outlining an incident that occurred in the summer of 2007, in which he said he and Wilson had a heated meeting at the Metchosin municipal offices. Ultimately, Ranns asked Wilson to leave.
At a subsequent council meeting in January 2008, Ranns said that he had asked Wilson to leave the offices because he had "bullied" female staff and tried to bully council.
Wilson objected to the term and filed suit in B.C. Supreme Court against Ranns and the District of Metchosin seeking unspecified damages, saying Ranns "seriously injured his character, credit and reputation."
In an agreement to settle the suit, Ranns this week read a statement at council that is to be included in the council minutes and posted on the municipal website.
In his statement, Ranns says:
"Mr. Wilson has requested that I withdraw my use of the word 'bully' to describe his actions. I am prepared to accept that Mr. Wilson was not bullying members of our staff or trying to bully me and council.
"In fairness to our staff members, I believe that they have found that the zeal he expressed in his requests and remarks may have gone beyond the point where they were comfortable. However, it is clear to me that Mr. Wilson holds strongly to the view that his conduct did not amount to bullying, and I am prepared to accept that.
"I will request that this statement be entered into our minutes."
Ranns said the cost to the municipality was the deductible on the Municipal Insurance Association policy.
He said he had already issued an apology to Wilson prior to his filing a lawsuit but was happy to issue the statement to see the matter put to rest.
"The intention was never to cause him any difficulty and I'm sorry that he felt that it did," Ranns said.
