Mayor Fred Eisenberger downplayed a public exchange he had with downtown councillor Bob Bratina this week when both exchanged heated words during a public meeting with a packed gallery and later in front of reporters.

Mr. Bratina attempted to signal to Mr. Eisenberger, who was chairing a committee of the whole meeting, that he wanted to speak. When the mayor "ignored him", according to Mr. Bratina, Mr. Eisenberger snapped "I'm not your lackey.

"You swore at me, you threatened me," added Mr. Eisenberger.

Mr. Bratina said later in an interview all he told the mayor during a private exchange was "If you keep doing that (ignoring) me, I'll do it to you."

"He's demeaning me," added Mr. Bratina said. "And that means he is demeaning the 38,000 people I represent."

As to Mr. Eisenberger's accusation that he "threatened" him, Mr. Bratina dismissed it.

"What am I going to do - give him a super wedgie?"

The downtown councillor cited three instances over the last month where Mr Eisenberger has "ignored" his request to speak.

"He has refused to recognize me. He has cut me off. He makes decisions ahead of time. I'm trying to be respectful."

Mr. Bratina said Mr. Eisenberger's "biggest problem" is "keeping order" as he chairs meetings that can sometimes get emotional and heated. He pointed out he has allowed Councillor Sam Merulla and recently Flamborough councillor Margaret McCarthy to get out of control.

When first asked about his exchange with Mr. Bratina after the meeting, Mr. Eisenberger downplayed it, saying these types of things occur in the heat of the debate among councillors.

"Bob is a good guy. I have no issue with Bob," said Mr. Eisenberger, while Mr. Bratina listened to the mayor's answers.

"I'm not going to share what occurred," he told reporters.

When pressed, Mr. Eisenberger said Mr. Bratina did "cross the line" and didn't conduct himself in an "appropriate way."

Mr. Bratina then told Mr. Eisenberger, while the two reporters looked on, that "more than once you have acted inappropriately" during council meetings. Both politicians exchanged some more works before Mr. Eisenberger left the room.

One of the mayor's assistants attempted to mediate the disagreement between the two politicians. When asked if maybe the mayor and Mr. Bratina could settle their differences "off-line", Mr. Bratina retorted "I don't think so" and walked away.