The Mayor of Mount Pearl Dave Aker is taking a step aside, temporarily, while allegations regarding the city’s Respectful Workplace Policy are being investigated.

Mayor Aker made the announcement this evening.

In a statement, Aker says he intends to cooperate fully and he respects the confidentiality of the process.

He says the past few months have been challenging for staff, council and the city but he believes all parties can learn from the process.

The City of @Mount_Pearl confirm that Aker has voluntarily stepped aside so that council can address the harassment complain made by Andrea Power. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/RQhELXhF1d

— Victoria Battcock (@VicBattcock) July 13, 2020

In late June during a council meeting, two council members were dismissed for conflict of interest in relation to the harassment investigation into former CAO Steve Kent.

One of those former councillors, Andrea Power, delivered an emotional address where she called Aker “a bully.”

She alleges that Mayor Aker at a community event made an oinking noise as a woman was reaching for a cookie. Power says the woman, who was upset, reached out to her but decided not to pursue the matter.

She called on the Mayor and Deputy Mayor Jim Locke to resign but neither did.