Some city councillors were threatened over social media following a heated meeting on Monday - and a couple of councillors said it's unacceptable.

"Out there on social media - which I call anti-social media - there have been threats of violence against this council this week," said Coun. Henry Clarke at a meeting on Thursday.

"That's wrong... It's certainly not public engagement."

On Monday council was scheduled to ratify an earlier plan not to object to potential uranium pelleting at a local nuclear energy firm - which is in a residential area, near Prince of Wales Public School.

BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada manufactures nuclear fuel bundles in Peterborough and assembles uranium dioxide pellets that are manufactured in Toronto.

Its licence expires at the end of 2020 and the company has applied for a new licence with one change: BWXT would like to be allowed to start producing pellets at both the Toronto and the Peterborough facilities.

On Monday, about 40 people lined up to ask council to reconsider a plan not to write to federal officials in opposition of the licence application.

Most people said they are concerned about potential harm to human health.

Council heard so many public delegations it took until 12:30 a.m. for council to hear from everyone.

Then they reconvened Thursday night for debate and vote (they voted to write to federal agencies to say citizens are concerned).

On Thursday, Clarke said some members of council - whom he did not name - received threats online this week.

"Some people think if they yell loud enough, they will be heard," he said. "But threats and intimidation are not anywhere in democracy - especially not in Peterborough. It doesn't fit."

"This is my workplace - I feel I'm being harassed and bullied in my workplace," said Coun. Keith Riel.

He said he felt that people were belligerent in person at that meeting - and he didn't appreciate it.

Councillors stayed to listen to public delegations for seven hours on Monday, Riel said - so no one can say they aren't willing to listen.

"But we have to do a better job of educating on what decorum is."

"I think it's a sad day when the 11 of us who've been elected to do the business of the city... and there's threats made to certain ones of us."

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joelle.kovach

@peterboroughdaily.com