91原创

91原创 Township council saw a heated exchange last week over positions that allegedly reported directly to Mayor Eric Woodward, an idea he called 鈥渁 conspiracy theory.鈥�

Councillor Kim Richter, one of three councillors who are not members of Woodward鈥檚 Contract with 91原创 (CWL) majority on the nine-member council, presented a notice of motion on April 17 that questioned the creation of 鈥渇our new administrative positions,鈥� which Richter said 鈥渞eport primarily to the mayor.鈥�

Richter named four positions, at least two of which are senior director-level jobs, in human resources, bylaws, community initiatives and legal advice, and media relations.

Richter鈥檚 motion questioned why there had not been a council resolution 鈥渢o create an expanded Mayor鈥檚 Office administration staff鈥� and asked for all reports generated by any of the 鈥渘ew positions鈥� to be shared with all of council immediately.

Woodward rejected the idea that the positions were under his direct authority or that most of them were new positions at all.

He said that on taking office last year, there was a lot of work to be done 鈥� the CWL won a majority with a large and detailed list of new programs and reforms 鈥� and that staff are needed to work for a growing municipality with about 150,000 people.

鈥淭o me, this amounts to a conspiracy theory, and I can鈥檛 really believe it was put on the agenda,鈥� Woodward said.

鈥淧erhaps I could get some clarification on this, because I really don鈥檛 appreciate being called a liar in a public meeting,鈥� Richter replied.

Township administrator Mark Bakken, who heads up the Township鈥檚 staff, said that the 鈥渘ew鈥� positions include posts that have been filled after retirements of longtime senior staff, such as manager of engineering and community development Ramin Seifi.

Bakken said that jobs have been changed as part of a re-organization, with duties tweaked.

Although some of the positions have different responsibilities, and two of the positions make $185,000 or $200,000, the actual cost of staffing is down by $1.5 million, Woodward noted.

That鈥檚 partly because people are leaving after years of service and being replaced by newer hires who are paid less, Bakken said.

Richter asked about whether or not all Township employees report to Bakken, or if some of them are reporting directly to the mayor.

Bakken gave a qualified response. Technically, all employees report to him as the head of the Township鈥檚 administration, he said.

But it鈥檚 possible for employees to work more directly with the mayor on some projects, Bakken noted. That approach exists in other communities, he said, and it did exist in the Township in the 1990s.

After some tense back and forth exchanges between Richter and Woodward, Coun. Steve Ferguson called for decorum.

鈥淲e do have a code of conduct and respect that we need to refer to,鈥� he said, noting that the L-word 鈥� liar 鈥� was off-limits for the council.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 call staff names, and I don鈥檛 call my colleagues names,鈥� said Ferguson. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not appropriate.鈥�

Richter wrapped up by re-iterating that all councillors needed equal access to information from staff, and that she didn鈥檛 feel like she had equal access.

鈥淢y concern is that this corporation is run by a body of nine [the council,] it鈥檚 not run by one person,鈥� said Richter.

Woodward said he thought her motion was insulting and incorrect, and asked for reports that don鈥檛 exist.

鈥淭his has been brought to the council table for pure theatre, in my opinion,鈥� he said.

Richter鈥檚 motion was defeated 7-2, with her and Coun. Margaret Kunst the only votes in favour.

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