"It started when a regional staffer emailed about work on St. Paul Street West over the Burgoyne Bridge, which is a contentious nearly $100-million project in the region. Bruce Timms, a St. Catharines regional councillor, replied that it will be good to see final touches made on the bridge.

Petrowski replied to 95 recipients, including the fire chief, Horizon Utilities and Niagara Student Transportation Services.

"There must have been a sale on these multi-million dollar, taxpayer-funded, non-functional arches ... guess who put these up in Ottawa?" he wrote. "You're right if you said .... drum roll, please....'Pomerlau'...what a joke!"

He attached a photo of a nude woman sitting in a chair with her legs spread.

Petrowski followed up in a second email four minutes later, saying, "I apologize to everyone for the previous e-mail just sent … this was sent in error as a terrible message by someone who was using my iPad I thought to send a private message. I am very sorry for this unacceptable and inappropriate transmission."