Councillors unsure over Sage’s future

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This article was published 11/10/2019 (2216 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After the revelation of a suspected overdose death of a woman who had been living at Brandon city manager Rod Sage’s house in July, most city councillors say they do not have enough information to say whether he should step back while police investigate the circumstances around her death.

Earlier this week, Mayor Rick Chrest stood firmly behind Sage.

“I fully understand why citizens would be concerned,” Chrest said on Wednesday, adding that he is also concerned that those who try to help people dealing with addictions would be vilified.

Late in the afternoon on Thursday, Sage announced he would be “stepping back” from his role on Brandon’s Municipal Police Board, but there was no indication of his stepping back from other roles he fills as city manager.

When reached on Thursday, Coun. Kris Desjarlais (Rosser) said it is too early to say whether Sage should remain in his role with the city during the police investigation.

“I know we’ll likely be discussing this in the very near future, so I just don’t think it’s fair for me to say.”

Similarly, Coun. Ron Brown (Richmond) said he was also unsure if Sage should remain in his position as city manager.

“I’m not too sure about that. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Sage and think we have to have our meeting, talk things out but, personally, I’m not too sure,” Brown said.

Christine Robin Mitchell, 30 at the time of her death, had been living at Sage’s home for almost five years. She was taken to hospital for a suspected overdose on July 10, and later died in hospital.

Police became aware of Mitchell’s death on July 11 from a member of the public, Brandon Police Service Sgt. Kirby Sararas told the Sun on Wednesday, and opened an investigation immediately.

The investigation is ongoing, Sararas said, and as such BPS is unable to disclose any details, such as whether there are any allegations of criminal wrongdoing.

However, this was not the first time Sage’s home has caught police attention, Sararas said, as police conducted a search of the house for guns last year after receiving information.

No warrant was issued as Sage was co-operative with police. No guns were found and no charges were laid against him.

A few months after moving in, Mitchell pleaded guilty to a drug-related obstruction of justice charge and was sentenced to 18 months of house arrest, according to court documents.

She provided Sage’s address as the residence where she would be serving her sentence.

Brandon City Council had a meeting scheduled with the Brandon School Division on Thursday evening in a semi-annual meeting. The meeting was the first time council met together officially since the investigation around Sage became public on Wednesday. Brown said the news around Sage would likely come up at the meeting but couldn’t say more on Thursday afternoon.

Council is still waiting on more information, said Coun. Jeff Fawcett (Assiniboine), and so couldn’t say whether Sage should remain in his position with the city.

“We are making sure that on our end we’re doing all our due-diligence. Should any other decision need to be made we’ll make that but as of right now, today, there’s an element of business as usual, but obviously it’s not completely normal,” Fawcett said.

He said Brandon City Council as a group is making sure it is fulfilling its role while uncertainty around Sage remains.

“I think internally we’ve got to be dealing with what we’ve got to be dealing with but you know life is going on, business as usual. Any of these things we take very serious so there’s a lot innuendo out there — and even we don’t know all that stuff so there’s a lot of homework that will be getting done.”

Both Coun. Barry Cullen (Victoria) and Coun. John LoRegio (Meadows-Waverly) directed comment to Mayor Rick Chrest. LoRegio said he has “no problem with (Sage’s position) right now.”

While dozens of people have commented on social media, none of the councillors the Sun spoke with said they had heard many concerns yet from constituents.

The councillors the Sun reached out to earlier in the day provided comments for this story, but those called later in the afternoon declined to comment.

Councillors Glen Parker (Riverview), Bruce Luebke (South Centre) and Shawn Berry (Linden Lanes) declined to comment, saying Chrest was council’s spokesperson. Coun. Jan Chaboyer (Green Acres) and Coun. Shaun Cameron (University) could not be reached.

The next regular Brandon City Council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.

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