The warden of the Municipality of the District of Guysborough says people shouldn’t jump to conclusions regarding an email exchange involving the municipality’s chief administrative officer.
Organizers of Lost Shores Gran Fondo, an annual cycling event held in Guysborough Co., and municipal officials parted ways after three years in Sept. 2018; both have announced plans for their own separate events in Sept. 2019.
Barry Carroll told Rob Carter, the past organizer of the event, “Gloves are off. You’re going to wish you never heard of me. Buckle up!!!” in a March email posted on the Lost Shores Facebook page Monday.
After May’s regular municipal council meeting Wednesday, Vernon Pitts, Guysborough’s warden, said he doesn’t perceive the comments as a threat.
“It’s taken out of context- if you are aware of what was taking place since day one, you wouldn’t be considering it as a threat either,” he said. “It was just a figure of speech that was made inappropriately.”
Municipal officials provided a statement, including an apology from Carroll, with further explanation of the situation and screenshots of follow-up emails between Carroll and Carter, which you can read here.
Pitts said he’s seen the criticism of Carroll online.
“I am not on Facebook- never been on Facebook- and I am fully aware of the backlash on Facebook,” he said. “People have to realize you shouldn’t jump to conclusions until you hear both sides of the story, and decide following that.”
Pitts said Carroll took the appropriate steps by apologizing, but councillors don’t consider the matter over.
He said they planned to discuss the situation during a private, in-camera session, as it is considered a personnel matter.
Carroll wasn’t at Wednesday’s meeting, but Pitts said his absence wasn’t related to this matter; instead, he was attending a previously scheduled family function in Newfoundland.
