Should this job be filled?

As Bill Freiburger prepares to retire as the City of Sault Ste. Marie's commissioner of finance and treasurer in May, his successor Shelley Schell has been directed by city council to study whether her current job (Manager of Finance and Budgets) should be filled once it becomes vacant.

Mayor Christian Provenzano has consistently expressed a desire for council and staff to evaluate whether any vacancies created at city hall should be filled, with the intention of trimming city spending.

Joe Fratesi, outgoing chief administrative officer (CAO), who will retire April 30, told council Monday a formal, written vacancy policy does not exist, but an unwritten policy has been in place for several years by which the CAO and Commissioner of Human Resources decide whether to fill a vacated job.

Provenzano told council Schell has agreed to undertake an evaluation of the Manager of Finance and Budgets position once she takes over as Commissioner of Finance and Treasurer.

A motion was put forward directing the incoming Commissioner of Finance to undertake a review of the Manager of Finance and Budgets post within 30 days after taking over as Commissioner of Finance and report back to council with her findings.

After some debate, the motion was reworded to include soon-to-be interim CAO Nuala Kenny and Commissioner of Human Resources Peter Niro to work with Schell in the review. 

Ward 1 Councillor Steve Butland disagreed with the motion.

Butland said Schell should not be charged with an assessment of the Manager of Finance and Budgets position, saying such an assessment is "too personal, too intrusive and too rushed."

"It's just not on," Butland told council.

Provenzano disagreed.

"This is an opportunity to review a senior city position, a chance to make the running of her (Schell's) department more efficient."

Ward 3 Councillor Matthew Shoemaker agreed with Provenzano, saying council has been charged with finding efficiencies and the job review is part of that responsibility.

The motion in favour of a review was passed 10-2 in a recorded vote.

Councillors Butland and Lou Turco were opposed to the motion.

Councillor Rick Niro was absent.