Wawa's mayor is expressing "grave concern" over criminal allegations against the municipality's chief administrative officer.
A release from the Municipality of Wawa - on behalf of Mayor Ron Rody - says the municipality "takes seriously its obligation to create and maintain a safe workplace environment, free from discrimination and harassment of any kind", further pledging to "cooperate fully with the relevant authorities" and to "continue to provide outstanding community service to the citizens of Wawa".
The release does not comment on whether CAO/Clerk-Treasurer Chris Wray is facing any disciplinary action - such as a possible suspension - or whether he's taking leave at this time, but Wray could not be reached at the Municipal Offices on Friday or today.
Wray was not in attendance for Friday's annual general meeting of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre - he had been chair of the organization, but was replaced in that role in a planned succession unrelated to his arrest.
58-year-old Wray was arrested by Greater Sudbury Police last Monday on charges of sexual assault and criminal harassment stemming from a complaint made by a woman to Superior East O-P-P at the end of May - that complaint alleged an assault happened in Greater Sudbury in November 2016, and that the involved parties were known to each other.
Greater Sudbury Police have confirmed that Wray was released after his arrest on a promise to appear in court on August 29th, though they are asking for anyone with information about the alleged assault or Wray to contact Greater Sudbury Police or Crime Stoppers.
Wray has been Wawa's CAO/Clerk-Treasurer since 1999, aside from a brief stint working for Muskoka Lakes from 2012 to 2014.