(Leaked memo) Why Rowswell opposed Dolcetti hiring

The following confidential memo, sent by Sault Ste. Marie Mayor John Rowswell to City Council one week ago today, was obtained by SooToday.com.

*********************** John Rowswell, M.Eng., P.Eng., P.E. MAYOR

2004 05 07

CONFIDENTIAL

MEMO TO: Council

SUBJECT: Council Agenda item 10(c): Irregularities in the recruitment process - Commissioner of Engineering & Planning

As Mayor and CEO of the Corporation of the City of Sault Ste. Marie, in compliance with my responsibilities as the head of council, as set out in the Municipal Act, I must bring forward an irregularity in our recruitment process for the Commissioner of Engineering and Planning.

I have attached for council's attention the Nov. 16th, 1998 resolution identifying the process for selection and recruitment.

Under section 3(b) "Establish Criteria for the Position", I would like to point out that neither the existing Commissioner of Engineering & Planning, or the Commissioner of Public Works & Transportation (both professional engineers) nor our City Solicitor were involved in the process.

After the last council meeting, I requested from our retiring Mel Brechin, a copy of his job description.

I forwarded this description to the Association of Professional Engineers (PEO), as I felt that we had received a recommendation from our CAO to promote a non-engineer to this position and carry out work within the practice of professional engineering; the PEO's decision confirmed my concern.

Upon notification to our CAO, he wrote the PEO advising them that I had sent them the wrong job description.

Again, they confirmed that parts of the newest job description were within the practice of professional engineering.

This means that it was inappropriate for our CAO to recommend a non-engineer to this position.

As Jerry Dolcetti is not an engineer or a professional engineer, Mr. Dolcetti failed to meet the technical requirements as set out for the position.

He should not have been recommended.

The passing of the By-Law 10 (c) does not adhere to the guidelines for Recruitment and Selection of Senior Staff as confirmed by resolution Nov. 16th, 1998.

Council will recall that this process was put in place as a direct result of the selection of Joe Fratesi as CAO. It set out a framework to include council in the process. In our last council caucus session, council will recall that the CAO's recommendation was given to us upon our arrival and did not include the job description. He sent out a media release the next morning, yet the bylaw of appointment had not been presented to open council. Today, I bring to your attention flaws in the recruitment process.

It is my recommendation to not pass by-law 10 (c) at council Monday night, as I strongly recommend that independent legal counsel review this entire matter and provide guidance to council on how best to proceed from here.

Respectfully submitted,

John Rowswell, MAYOR

*********************** Final word from engineers: Dolcetti hiring was okay