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Chiarelli has been accused of making lewd comments during job interviews and assigning staff to collect intelligence at strip clubs. Some of the women who have made accusations have been identified in the media, others have not.

The city’s integrity commissioner is looking into the claims.

Three councillors — Catherine McKenney, Shawn Menard and Jeff Leiper — have called for Chiarelli’s resignation if the allegations are true.

Mayor Jim Watson and Coun. Theresa Kavanagh, council’s liaison for women and gender equity, have said they are “disturbed by the allegations” and they encouraged women who have had allegedly inappropriate experiences with Chiarelli to talk with the integrity commissioner.

Watson said on Thursday he read Chiarelli’s statement.

“Because the matter is before the integrity commissioner, I think it would be most appropriate that I reserve comment at this time,” Watson said.

Chiarelli asked council to grant him a leave of absence last week for an undisclosed medical reason but was denied. Council put the request on hold and assigned councillors Allan Hubley and Scott Moffatt to help take care of constituent issues in Chiarelli’s College ward.

“I can say, without reservation, that I have never treated a member of my staff (including job candidates) in a sexually harassing, discriminatory, or inappropriate ‘gender-based’ fashion,” Chiarelli’s statement says.

One of the unnamed women, who has worked for councillor, has publicly shared a text message exchange between herself and a person alleged to be Chiarelli. The conversation concerned what she should wear to an event.