Former CAO tells Sudbury newspapers about 'toxic' city hall led by 'paranoid' mayor

The former top bureaucrat at Sudbury city hall is speaking out about a "toxic" environment created by a "paranoid" mayor.

But, departed interim Chief Administrative Officer Bob Johnston has declined to make those comments directly to CBC News.

Johnston did an exclusive interview with the Sudbury Star and Northern Life detailing his less than six months as the city's top staffer.

It is a long list of grievances and opinions, touching oneverything from the negative attitude of Mayor Brian Bigger and his staff to a citycouncil being unawareof the job it's supposed to be doing.

In the newspaper interviews, Johnston also talks about how the mayor accusedof him of insubordination in September over a firefighter staffing issue and thatled to a fiery argument in Bigger's office, withJohnston ultimatelyreturning to his former job heading up the city's airport.

The veteran city bureaucrat came to the job in April, after the sudden departure of former CAO Doug Nadorozny.

Mayor Brian Bigger declined an interview earlier in the day, but in a statement said he was "disappointed" in Johnston's commentsnoting that he came "highly recommended" for the interim CAO job.

Later on Friday, during an unrelated press conference, Bigger downplayed Johnston's comments as he spoke with reporters.

"Mr. Johnston is a passionate individual. But we had put in place as an interim CAO, in a temporary assignment. And the most important thing is we're always acting in the best interests of citizens."

Bigger addedthat Johnston was not fired from his post as CAO, but was moved back to his regular job, heading up the Sudbury airport.

This comes as the city is the midst of its search for a new chief administrative officer, with human resources director Kevin Fowkecurrently filling that job on an interim basis.