The Township of Rideau Lakes has suspended in-person council meetings after a tense Oct., 6 session that involved verbal altercations, a call to local police and staff invoking their right to refuse work under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

The Township announced Thursday that all council and committee-of-the-whole meetings will now be held virtually “until further notice,” citing workplace safety concerns.

In an email to Global News, chief administrative officer Shellee Fournier said that the Oct. 6 meeting was adjourned after two heated exchanges involving members of the public and deputy mayor Debbie Hutchings.

“After an altercation between the Deputy Mayor and a member of the public, I warned Council that I would be pulling staff from the meeting if Council

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