NOTE: This story and video contain profane language

SOLVAY, N.Y. -- Solvay Mayor Derek Baichi told a group of village employees “I f*** bitches” during a disciplinary meeting last year.

In the meeting with a village employee, Baichi raised what he said are persistent, false rumors he is a homosexual.

“I just hear that you guys hate my f***ing guts, you call me a dwarf," Baichi said, speaking to a village employee. "There’s a rumor that I’m a homosexual. I get more p***y than anyone here. That I can guarantee. I am not a homosexual.”

“That did come up in this room,” the employee replied.

“I am not a homosexual," Baichi said. "Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Or lesbianism. I’m not judgmental.”

“People are what they are. I don’t...” the other man replied.

“I f*** b****es,” Baichi continued.

The full context of the conversation is unclear, though at least two men can be heard in the room in addition to Baichi. They are discussing village business and personnel.

The conversation took place last fall. Baichi, a Republican, is not up for re-election this year, but is actively supporting several village trustee candidates and other local and county office-seekers.

The exchange was audio recorded and a copy of that recording was provided to syracuse.com Friday by a source.

A reporter reached out to Baichi Friday, and he confirmed it was his voice on the tape, before saying he would not talk further on the record and that he was contacting the village lawyer.

Baichi sent syracuse.com a written statement Monday, saying he could not comment on the matter because it is part of an internal personnel investigation. He did not elaborate on who is under investigation or why.

He also noted the timing of the audio’s release, about five weeks before an election.

“I am prohibited by law to discuss, and I have asked the New York state police to assist with this investigation,” he wrote. “I am confident the truth and motivation behind this uniquely timed situation will be brought forward, and the long overdue facts concerning this matter will be made available.”

Copies of the recording spread widely across social media and in political circles over the weekend. Sunday evening, Baichi posted a video on Facebook in which he said people were bringing up things from his past to make him look bad.

“I’ve said a lot of stupid stuff in the past, I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff, but guess what? It’s always for the integrity of this village," he said. "You will never break Derek Baichi.”

Baichi didn’t specifically mention the audio recording or his comments, but he said he “loves women” and that people are trying to bash him and scare him.

In that video, he said he has a beautiful girlfriend and does not judge anyone based on their sexuality. He also brought up 80s pop star George Michael, who was openly gay, and said he likes his music.

Baichi’s brash, boisterous style is by now familiar to many in Solvay. He took office last year, promising to upend what he calls the “shadow government” and “good old boys club” in the village. He won an election in which he promised he would not kowtow to political correctness.

In office, Baichi spars often with village board members and insults them in public meetings.

Those attacks have earned him devout followers as well as political enemies. He’s said people have attacked his character and his reputation frequently. In an interview earlier this year he referred to rumors about his sexuality that were started by his opponents in an effort to malign him.

He’s repeatedly said he is not a homosexual, though he is a supporter of the gay and lesbian community. This summer, for example, he decided to proudly fly a rainbow flag at Solvay Village Hall to show solidarity with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.