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By a narrow 5-4 vote, Kincardine council has approved a
review of municipal managers, staff and council, which is
expected to cost $125,000.
Councillor Marsha Leggett At the meeting Wednesday night (Feb.
11), councillor Marsha Leggett brought forward her motion, calling for a
review of the organization and operation of the Municipality of
Kincardine.
"It's been 10 years since amalgamation," she said. "I think it's time we
find out whether we have the right people in the right place to manage
this municipality. We should hire a consultant who will talk to
everybody and discover if there are any problems."
Deputy mayor Laura Haight "I'm still a little confused about
what you want them (consultant) to do," said deputy mayor Laura Haight.
"I want the consultant to come to the municipality and talk to the
managers, the employees, the CAO (chief administrative officer), and
council, and find out how we think we can get the community back in
line," Leggett said.
"Are you wanting to change job descriptions?" asked mayor Larry Kraemer.
Leggett said the consultant will determine what employees are needed and
not needed. "I know when it's my turn to talk to them, I have lots of
changes I'd like to see," she said. Councillor Kenneth Craig said it
was a challenge 10 years ago to set up the organization to manage the
new amalgamated community. "My question is, does council have any desire
to do this? We spent three weeks discussing our own operational
structure and then decided to stick with the status quo based on the
fact that going with what we don't know was too scary."
While he had no argument with doing an organizational review, Craig said
council must accept the full consultant's report. "If it says we need 10
more staff or if we can run with only seven councillors or if we should
get rid of committee-of-the-whole, we do it. I refuse to hire a
consultant and then pick out only what we want from the report. This is
not a witch hunt. Management is measured by the same yard stick as the
entire organization. I support going with the whole report or forget
it."
"We can't support the entire report before we hear it," said councillor
Gordon Campbell. (next column)
13/02/2009 02:48 PM
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"I believe this review should be done," said councillor Randy Roppel.
"I feel it's time that we, as elected officials on behalf of the
taxpayers of this municipality, go through our entire system, from stem
to stern, including ourselves." Leggett agreed with Craig that if
council is not prepared to do what the consultant says, then the process
should stop here.
"Our staff does a good job," said Kraemer. "If we start changing job
descriptions, we have to bring in job equity and pay equity. We've
already done a lot of work on that. We conducted a study, at a cost of
$103,000, and then implemented the program, at a cost of $170,000. I
don't want to go down that path again." He said council is looking at
a 12.7-per-cent hike in taxes as it begins budget talks next month.
"Council has full control over hiring and the organizational structure,
and we can continue to review them. The proper lay-out of staff is under
the CAO's expertise and authority. I'm comfortable with that. This is
not the way to go this year. We have the proper checks and balances in
place."
Kraemer added that the review should come forward as part of budget
discussions. I'm concerned about the cost," said Haight.
"Are we substituting a consultant's view of this over our own? If it's a
problem with services, I'm not sure a consultant can help us with that.
If there are other problems, let's deal with them as a council rather
than through a consultant."
Leggett said the study would cost about $125,000. "The consultant will
find out the problems. If, after two years on council, you can't see any
problems, then you're not seeing what's happening out there. We'll
recoup our costs in a year."
Haight continued to ask what problems Leggett is referring to.
Leggett alluded to staff who are supposed to keep their mouths shut
about problems and just do their work, and she said a major problem is
that for six months something is supposed to be resolved but nothing is
done. "I'm not out to beat the bushes. If people are afraid of losing
their jobs, my question is are they doing their jobs correctly?"
"We've set job descriptions and policies," said Haight. "Why spend
$125,000 to consider changes we can facilitate ourselves?"
"We need to bring in a consultant to see the situation we can't see for
the blinders we have on," argued Leggett.
Craig suggested tabling Leggett's motion and bringing it to a closed
session of the corporate services committee.
"The cost of this study would add two points to the tax rate," said
Kraemer. "And it's far more complicated than it appears on the surface.
We'd have to deal with pay equity and job equity and that can get messy.
I'd like to hear, in confidence, what the issues are. I'm uncomfortable
giving pre-budget approval to this. It's premature on several levels and
it's a bad idea."
Council defeated a motion to table the issue.
In a recorded vote, the review was approved, 5-4, with Leggett,
Anderson, Campbell, Roppel and councillor Mike Leggett in favour, while
Kraemer, Haight, Hewitt and Craig were opposed.
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