Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey sat in stunned silence Monday as city councillors locked horns over a new set of office rules designed to ease tensions and help them better work together.

“This is coming to us because two councillors aren’t doing (their jobs) like the rest of us are,” said regional Coun. Michael Palleschi during a dragged out discussion over a draft list of office protocols introduced at Monday’s Member Services Committee meeting.

Palleschi questioned the appropriateness of imposing more stringent rules, which cover a range of procedures from conduct among councillors to sharing information. He argued they actually hinder a councillor’s ability to do their job.

“The other councillors don’t have these issues,” said Palleschi, directing his comments toward councillors Gael Miles and Pat Fortini who have been at constant odds this term of council. In April, Fortini and Miles fought over a missing council Twitter account they shared.

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Brampton is part of a two-tier, regional system of government. Miles and Fortini both represent Wards 7 and 8. Miles, a regional councillor, accused her counterpart of dealing with matters that go beyond his mandate as a representative of the lower-tier government.

Fortini, in his first term on council, rebutted that constituents call him with their issues and requests “because some people don’t want to deal with her (Coun. Miles).”

Fortini suggested Miles can be overly territorial when it comes to constituency work, even in a situation where city and regional business overlap.

If adopted, the new office protocols would stipulate whom, between the regional and city councillor, would handle a call about garbage, potholes, social services.

“Why do we need this?” asked a visibly annoyed Palleschi.

Much of Jeffrey’s brief administration has been bogged down by divisiveness and dysfunction around the council table. Despite her assurances during a recent interview that council relations are improving, Monday’s display showed evidence to the contrary.