City considers annual review for CAO

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This article was published 28/11/2014 (4286 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rookie Coun. Matt Allard feels he’s scored a minor victory at city hall for his proposal for annual performance reviews of the chief administrative officer.

Allard left the executive committee meeting Friday with a commitment that the idea will be studied in more detail at a later time.

“I think it basically means that EPC is supportive of the intent of the motion, and they’re not quite sure of the actual details and implementation.

“It was a message of support from EPC saying, ‘yes, we want to work on accountability, we want concrete measures to restore accountability at city hall.’”

Allard proposed that city hall institute an annual performance review of the CAO and that the findings of the review be shared with council and the public.

Allard told EPC that Winnipeg is one of the few municipalities in the country which doesn’t subject its CAO, or equivalent, to a performance review.

“I believe we were elected to restore accountability at city hall,” Allard told the committee. “The public wants to see more than words on this issue – they want to see action.”

Allard said he had vowed during the election campaign to make this issue the first motion he brings forward at city hall.

However, the idea almost died when Couns. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) and John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry) said the proposal, while worthwhile, is premature and should be accepted as information only – political speak for killing the idea.

But any idea of rejecting the proposal was stopped by Couns. Janice Lukes (St. Norbert) and Brian Mayes (St. Vital), who said the idea is worth studying.

Lukes said she was surprised to learn that Winnipeg’s CAO isn’t subject to a performance review.

“I think we need to move forward on discussion on this,” Lukes said.

Allard didn’t get exactly what he wanted – instructions to the administration to come up with a plan for implementing a CAO performance review. Instead, the proposal was put over to be brought back for further discussion in mid-January.

Mayor Bowman applauded Allard’s motion, saying performance reviews could also be extended to other senior civic officials.

“We’re going to have those discussions,” Bowman said following the meeting.

Bowman said the new CAO would be hired by the end of February or early March.

Allard said if there are concerns over making public the findings of the CAO’s performance review, he would be open to suggestions to modify that aspect of his idea. Allard said the public needs to know that a performance review has been conducted and that elected officials are confident the CAO is doing a good job.

But Allard insisted that the performance review be conducted by an independent, external organization if the public is to be satisfied about the integrity of the process.

An external evaluation ensures “you’re getting fearless advice from somebody who doesn’t have any agenda other than completing the terms of their contract,” Allard said.

 

 

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca