A fresh war of words has erupted between Hamilton Mayor Graeme Outerbridge and Alderman Carlton Simmons, fuelling speculation that the Team Hamilton administration is splitting apart.

In an e-mail exchange on Friday afternoon, Mr Outerbridge informed Mr Simmons that he was being dismissed from his position as chairman of the municipality’s property committee “as you no longer have my confidence to be fair or professional in the execution of your appointed duty”.

Mr Outerbridge claimed that Mr Simmons had failed to attend the last property committee meeting and had also behaved inappropriately at a meeting with the municipality’s lawyers.

“I asked you to please sit down and was met by contempt and your usual level of rudeness,” Mr Outerbridge said.

“I will not tolerate any more of your abusive unprofessional behaviour and will not tolerate you attending any meeting where you raise your voice, swear or make disparaging remarks towards any sitting member of the council or staff member. I encourage you to read and absorb the code of conduct and sign it.

“Finally, I am removing you as property chairman as you no longer have my confidence to be fair or professional in the execution of your appointed duty.”

Mr Simmons had earlier criticised the Mayor for failing to enact a number of controversial resolutions passed by the council which Mr Outerbridge had supported and voted for.

And responding to Mr Outerbridge’s e-mail on Friday afternoon, the Alderman yet again questioned the Mayor’s leadership abilities, and also said he would refuse to step down as property committee chairman.

“I will not stop being the chairman of property because you say so,” Mr Simmons said in his reply.

“Until we have a resolution to remove me I will remain as per the law.”

Mr Simmons claimed the Mayor’s “piss pore” [sic] leadership “has all but destroyed this great institution”, adding: “You are a complete failure as a mayor and this does not come as a surprise to me at all.

“You were elected because people like me asked people who you have no regard for to believe in you. Needless to say that was the worse [sic] decision I have ever made in my entire life. Now I see what all the fuss was about you are ignorant of the law, corporate practices, the basic rules of leadership and simple team play.”

Mr Simmons accused Mr Outerbridge of not abiding by the laws of the municipality or its code of conduct.

“I personally have tried to work with you and support you even when I didn’t agree,” Mr Simmons continued.

“You have never played fairly with us as your council. Every manager has voiced how you say one thing to the members and then go behind our backs and side with others. Had you just been straight with people, the CoH would have been a much better place.”

And Alderman Simmons also questioned the Mayor’s handling of the controversial waterfront development project, which saw the Corporation sign a 262-year lease with developers to rebuild much of the capital. The contract has since been condemned by Ombudsman Arlene Brock, who said it was unfair and possibly illegal.

“I, and other members, pleaded with you to give the Government the time they needed to review the waterfront lease — you did not listen,” Mr Simmons said in his e-mail.

“I stood with you in front of the country and pretended that I agreed with your complete incompetent waterfront process — because I thought it was important to at the very least look united in what was a Mickey Mouse process to begin with and why?

“Because you lied repeatedly to the council about the COH having lawyers when the[re] never was any lawyers representing the City in the waterfront lease. So yes you have lied, deceived, this council on many occasions to the detriment of this grate [sic] organisation.

“If I was not directly responsible for getting you elected I would have long stepped down. But I will not leave an ignorant, selfish, disloyal tyrant like [you] in charge of the city on my watch. I owe that much to the people of the city to expose you for what you really are a complete fraud and a complete failure.

“To that end I have lost complete confidence in you as a mayor and as our leader and to that end you should consider stepping down immediately. And that is not my sentiment alone.”

Mr Outerbridge has denied any split in Team Hamilton, but Ombudsman Arlene Brock said following an investigation that she believed the Corporation was being run by an “inner core” consisting of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor Donal Smith and common councillor Keith Davis who “knew and seemed to agree on everything”.

Mr Simmons, together with common councillor George Scott, were described by Ms Brock as “core members” who were informed about most matters and usually voted alongside the inner core.

The other elected officials, Alderman Gwyneth Rawlins and councillors Larry Scott, Troy Symonds and RoseAnn Edwards, sometimes dissented with the decisions of the core members. Mr Symonds resigned from his post this summer after officials voted to pay themselves for attending meetings.