The feud between the City of Wetaskiwin and its mayor, Joe Branco, found some middle ground on Tuesday, announcing they came to a court-approved interim agreement to lift his ban.<\/p>\n
The court order states that Branco can officially return after he retakes a respectful workplace training course and once he\u2019s back he will have to avoid contact with the complainant.<\/p>\n
This comes several months after city council voted to ban Branco from attending city council meetings in person in mid-January.<\/p>\n
Later on in July, Branco\u2019s lawyer, Roberto Noce, released the city report that led to the ban. It alleged the mayor verbally harassed a female city employee, calling her names like sweetie, honey, and his girl. Branco admitted to most of those allegations.<\/p>\n
Noce and Branco then called for a judicial review of the decision to ban him, and even though it\u2019s now lifted, that legal process is still underway.<\/p>\n
Noce hopes to have the first hearing in the fall of 2027.<\/p>\n
Katherine Ludwig has the full story in the video above.<\/p>\n