Mayor Thinks Ferguson "Just Didn't Like City Management"

Saint John Mayor Ivan Court has told the defamation trial of former Common Councillor John Ferguson, the city pension plan's deficit was like an iceberg coming towards the city and he was concerned about the cost of the early retirement packages.

Ferguson is currently the Town Manager of St. Stephen.


Court says he became friends with Ferguson in 2004 but disillusionment set in when Ferguson wouldn't share pertinent information with Common Council or offer up any proof to back his accusations of gross negligence.
 
Court testified he believes Ferguson's real problem was that he just didn't like city management for some reason.
 
He also told the jury the accusations were defamatory because members of the public started to believe pension board members did something wrong or illegal.