Dozens of Bay Roofing employees joined the company owner Monday morning, driving around city hall and honking horns to protest what they say is harassment by the city.

Mark Weckwerth said the company has been subject to harassing treatment by the city after he was charged and fined $200 in provincial offences court over the issue of street work permits required by the city.

“The last thing we want is to be doing this,” Weckwerth said shortly after 8 a.m. as about half his fleet and many of his 75 employees circled the block.

“This is our busy time of the year.”

Weckwerth claimed abuse of power by the city, which he said is demanding an $80 per truck per day permit when they report to a work site.

“We want to prove our point,” Alain Desroches, an employee of the company, said.

“The city has been on our case for the last two years.”

He pointed to a truck parked on Worthington Street East across from city hall to unload construction materials.

“If we parked like that, they’d be giving us tickets left and right.”

Weckwerth said the company has approached the city and staff for help, but has been either refused or ignored.

But Ron Melnyk, the city’s bylaw officer, said there was “nothing even close to factual” about Weckwerth’s charges.

“He was charged, he pleaded guilty.

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