PORT MOODY - Port Moody's mayor says he will be returning to his full duties Monday after a sexual assault charge against him was stayed

"I'm very glad to be exonerated of this charge and to have my name cleared and to have this issue behind me," Vagramov said at a news conference at city hall Thursday.

But the Port Moody mayor hasn’t technically been exonerated, after he struck a deal with Crown prosecutors that saw the charge stayed in exchange for completing what’s known as an “alternative measures” program.

On Thursday, Vagramov said the only requirement of the program was an apology to the woman who accused him of sexual assault, a 2015 encounter he described as an “awkward date.”

Canada’s Criminal Code also says that one requirement for “alternative measures” is that the offender be willing to acknowledge responsibility for the alleged offense.

Vagramov told CTV News that while he is “always responsible” for his actions, he maintains he did nothing wrong, adding he is glad the justice system was able to differentiate between “predatory behaviour” and an “awkward date.”

After the allegations against Vagramov came to light in March 2019, the mayor took a five-month leave of absence. He then returned unexpectedly in September, before going on leave once again in October after facing mounting pressure from some residents and city councillors.

On Thursday, Vagramov said in hindsight he should have waited until the matter was finished before returning to the mayor’s office. He said he wanted to apologize to the people of Port Moody for what some have called a “soap opera.”

“I’m deeply regretful for the amount of division that’s been caused in the community,” Vagramov said, striking a conciliatory tone. “Absolutely.”

Longtime Port Moody resident Willy Martin called Vagramov’s apology a good start, and said while he “deserves the benefit of the doubt,” she’ll be closely watching how he conducts himself moving forward.

“This is a great city,” Martin said. “We have challenges and we all have to move past.”

But Laura Dick seemed less certain about whether the city could move ahead with Vagramov at the helm.

“He didn’t apologize that he’s the cause of the divisiveness in the city,” Dick said. “I think that he should resign. I think as an elected official he is held to a much higher standard than what has happened here.”

Dick said she plans to continue with plans to submit a petition to the province to push for a change in laws that would outline clear steps and consequences for a local elected official charged or convicted of a criminal offence.

It’s a plan Vagramov said on Thursday that he also now supports, adding that he plans to meet with Minister of Municipal Affairs Selina Robinson to raise the issue.

But when it comes to how Vagramov plans to try to win back the support of constituents who have lost faith in his ability to lead, the mayor was more circumspect:

“That’s something that I’m going to have to do a lot of thinking about over the coming weeks and months,” he said.

With files from CTV News Vancouver's Alyse Kotyk and Andrew Weichel