A Tale of Two Quotes for “The Mayor’s Ask”
Sep 3 2024, Council Chambers
L-R City Manager Ann Mitchell, Councillor Shila Sharps, City Clerk Tarolyn Aaserud
Background
Mayor Clark has been trying to get the following information for a long time.
1. For each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023:
a. the number of City employees paid or reimbursed for living expenses;
b. for each employee (by job title or position) paid or reimbursed for living expenses:
i the duration for which they were paid or reimbursed for living expenses;
ii the itemized living expenses for which they were paid or reimbursed;
iii the amounts they were paid or reimbursed for living expenses on an itemized basis;
iv. the employee’s position type (i.e., permanent part time, permanent full time, temporary, etc.).
c. the total amount of living expenses paid out or reimbursed.
2. For each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023:
a. the basic terms of all severance agreements, including the precise sums, the date of the severance agreements, and the job title or position of the individual severed. For your reference, please see County of Vermilion River #24 (Re), Order F2007-025 (oipc.ab.ca).
3. A detailed accounting of all funds reallocated by the City Manager in 2023, pursuant to Section 20 of the Administrative Organization Bylaw, Bylaw No. 4662, or otherwise.
$565,000 is listed for FFD FM 2023 City Hall Security, Space & Furnishings, Fixtures and Equipment Upgrades - what was spent on
Security (which equipment, staff, and specific room in City Hall)
Space (which specific room at City Hall)
Furnishings (what furnishings were purchased and specific room in City Hall)
Fixtures (which fixtures and specific room in City Hall)
equipment upgrades (which equipment and specific room in City Hall)
4. Staff turnover statistics for each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, by month.
5. The City Manager’s 2023 itemized expenses and P-Card statements.
6. Each Managing Director’s 2023 itemized expenses and P-Card statements.
Mayor Clark was stonewalled for months. Feb 20 She tried to get it on the March 4 agenda but it never made it until April 8 2024. Then Council ran out the clock so they did not get to it until the following meeting. Not one Council Member would vote to extend the meeting so they could deal with it although they have not hesitated to do it since on other items.
April 14 2024 The Trash Panda filed a FOIP request for the Mayor’s Ask. On April 30, we received a notice that the City had filed a Request to Disregard.
May 6 2024 Council directed staff to find out how much it would cost to fulfil the Mayor’s Ask. (Staff was also directed to canvass other municipalities and find out which ones released this information publicly.)
After FIVE Months, We Now Have An Answer - Sort Of
The answer is buried on page 261 of the 387 page October 7 Regular Council Meeting Agenda Packet
Ann Mitchell wrote the Briefing Note estimate on what it would take to fulfill the request is included. It is nearly 4 times the amount that The Trash Panda was quoted for our FOIP request 5 days before this Briefing Note was created.
Quote for The Trash Panda - $945 (36 hours at $27/hr)
• Searching for, locating and retrieving records ($6.75 per 1/4 hour):
o Estimated Rate: 25 hours X $27.00/hour = $675.00
• Preparing and handling a record for disclosure ($6.75 per 1/4 hour):
o Estimated Rate: 10 hours X $27.00/hour = $270.00
Quote for Council - $3810.60 (35 hours at $105.85/hr)
Item 1 – 12 hours @ $105.85 per hour = $1,270.20
Item 2 – 5 hours @ $105.85 per hour = $529.25
Item 3 – 3 hours @ $105.85 per hour = $317.55
Item 4 – 12 hours @ $105.85 per hour = $1,270.20
Item 5 – 1 hour @$105.85 per hour = $105.85
Item 6 – 3 hours @$105.85 per hour = $317.55 Total Hours: 36 hours at a cost of $3,810.60
(Don’t they talk to each other at the Glass palace?)
I’m curious - how many people hours has City Hall Administration spent trying to fight the release of this information? I’m betting it is in excess of 36 hours. I also have questions about how long the City says it will take to produce certain items.
One hour to produce the City Manager’s 2023 itemized expenses and P-Card statements?
I hear we have things called accounting software that are able to track expenses. Assuming the expense reports have been filed correctly, it takes mere minutes, even seconds, to produce such reports.
3 hours to produce Each Managing Director’s 2023 itemized expenses and P-Card statements?
Yeah, I’m not buying it and neither should Council.
More to come…
