CitySSMLabour peace was achieved at Monday’s City Council meeting.  Approval was given to seperate four year contracts for CUPE Locals 3 CSD and Public Works and Transportation, as well as CUPE Local 67 Civic Centre Group.  Highlights of the settlement include wage increases of 1 and three quarter percent in each of the first three years and a 2 percent increase in 2018.  There are also improvements to contract language regarding job postings and vacation scheduling.  Highlights also include benefit cost reductions of about a third of a percent.  The net impact is an average increase in compensation of more than one and a half percent annually through the four year contract period. There are other agreements to be worked out including contracts with Library staff and the Humane Society.  It was also announced that other negotiations with EMS and Fire staff are at the point of mediation.  There are 10 agreements in all that the city is involved in.

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A letter regarding an update on the from the KPMG review of APH was included in Monday’s Council addendum.  But it appeared that the letter did not satisfy at least one city councillor.  Questions were posed to councillor and Algoma Board of Health Chair Marchy Bruni by Ward 3 rep Matt Shoemaker about that audit, with Bruni answering that such questions should be posed to the board and not him.  Bruni added that there was a ‘solicitor-client’ privilege and that the audit could not be publicated beyond APH or its counsel.  Mayor Christian Provenzano suggested that the issue was not about integrity and that there was a motion with specific requests — that resulted with information that ‘fell short’ of what the motion requested.  The motion specifically asked about why former APH Chief Financial Officer Shawn Rootenberg was hired and the process behind that hiring.  Provenzano suggested that the issue was not about integrity and that there was a motion with specific requests — that resulted with information that ‘fell short’ of what the motion requested.  The motion specifically asked about why former APH Chief Financial Officer Shawn Rootenberg was hired and the process behind that hiring. Provenzano reminded council that Bruni is only one member of the board and that the lack of information on criminal checks when it comes to hiring is not an inadquency on Bruni.  The mayor added that he would happy to visit to the Board of Health and address his concerns about that information to the group.  Councillor Steve Butland defended Board of Health Chair Marchy Bruni, saying not only that Bruni had performed ‘exceedingly well’ as a councillor, but that council should wait for the provincial audit on APH before passing judgment.  Ward 1 councillor Paul Christian agreed, saying nothing is going to change what has already happened.

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It didn’t take long for Mayor Christian Provenzano to move forward on a review of spending.  The first step in that process was approved by City Council on Monday night.  It will consist of a group of six people — including the mayor and two councillors — to look into the best methods of  to perform a council-led spending review of City Operations and grants to outside agencies, with a report to be submitted to Council.  Prior to the decision to approve, there was some suggestion that city staff should be involved in the process.  Another idea mentioned involved considering ways to generate new revenue, rather than reduce service through staff and budget cuts.