Fratesi memo to City Council, December 20, 2000

The following is the conclusion of a memorandum sent by Chief Administrative Officer Joe Fratesi to Mayor John Rowswell and City Council on December 20, 2000.

**************************************************************** I would hope that you will either work through me as the C.A.O. to ensure that staff is working on City Council's behalf or that matters which you wish to have looked after are brought regularly to City Council so that the appropriate directions might be given through my office to staff to carry out the wishes of Council.

The second matter that I feel compelled to raise with you at this point in time is with respect to your stated position on the public's view of the C.A.O. position.

In our first discussion following the election you asked that I avoid media contact, suggesting that you were under tremendous pressure from some sectors to "fire" me.

I responded by suggesting to you that I understood that you, as Mayor, would be a spokesman for the Corporation on all political issues.

I indicated to you that there was no need on my part to be in the limelight (having been there for many years in the past) and that at no time would I seek out media attention. I cautioned you, however, that part of my job in fact would necessitate me dealing with the media on matters that might touch on "the management of the administration of the government and affairs of the municipal corporation" and that therefore from time to time the media would be asking me for non-political comments.

I suggested to you that while I certainly would not seek out the media, I would not minimize my effectiveness as C.A.O. by refusing to speak to them on non-political matters and matters of information only.

Yesterday you called me into your office and made reference to a Sault Star article where I was being quoted on the Superbuild fund.

Your comment to me is certainly bothering me, that being "this is the kind of article that has people calling me demanding that I fire you".

First of all I was hired by Council and only Council can fire me. That is the first thing that I think you need to be telling people who call you every time my name might be mentioned.

Hopefully, the second thing you will tell them is that part of my job as C.A.O. necessarily requires me to respond to media inquiries on non political issues.

In the absence of a policy to the contrary by City Council, and in the absence of there being a formal communication officer's position established, I would hope that those most familiar with information being sought by the media on non-political issues are allowed to continue to speak to the media in answer to their queries.

John, I hope that you can readily see that I have been doing my best to build a good working relationship with you and Council.

Staff is committed to providing the best possible service as well. We need however, to request that you and Councillors be fully cognizant of our respective roles and responsibilities, limitations and reporting relationships.

It is hoped that no one is put in the awkward position when assigned a task to wonder whether or not their administrative bosses, the elected Council or the Mayor, agrees with what is being asked.

The only way that we, as a Corporation, can clearly function is if

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