“I’ve never seen things so bad as they are now.”

And with that, Mayor Linda Jeffrey summed up the fractiousness that has plagued her administration as councillors exchanged angry words over communications, staffing complements and, well, pretty much everything that’s transpired during this term of council.

“A very healthy majority (of voters) decided that I should be the next mayor of Brampton. They wanted a change,” said Jeffrey, who followed up with an ultimatum to her rivals.

“If you don’t like the job that I am doing, everyone here has an option in 2018 — put your name on the ballot.”

Jeffrey swept into power in 2014 on a promise to restore accountability and transparency at city hall following years of turmoil under the previous administration. But Jeffrey’s time as head of council so far has been deadlocked by petty rivalries and an inability to connect with elected officials on key issues.

During Wednesday’s Committee of Council meeting, the mayor sparred with council rivals over a Dec. 20 press release announcing her intention to sign a ‘sister-city’ agreement this month with a Sri Lankan municipality, which would overstep a clear directive from council to wait on a staff analysis before making a decision.

Jeffrey’s camp eventually removed the press release from the city’s website and clarified that the process is still in early stages and that council would ultimately make the final call.

However, the incident has managed to inflame councillors and members of the local Sri Lankan community who accuse politicians and the media of potentially ruining a “mutually benefiting relationship.”

The mayor was on vacation while the whole controversy unfolded.

“This is a sad day in this city,” declared Jeffrey, who has presided over a highly divided council. Her rivals argue much of that animosity stems from the mayor’s leadership style and inability to build consensus.