Maypr Rowswell's letter to the editor

The following is the conclusion of Mayor John Rowswell's letter to the editor:

************************ He collected his report after a short discussion from council who stated he was in fact was responsible for hiring and it was his decision to choose.

Council was aware of my opposition including the fact that the candidate was not a professional engineer. At our council retreat, one of the concerns that council expressed was that council did not like having information given to them without letting them read it to understand substantive issues.

In our caucus session of April 26th, no one even got a chance to read the recommendation, which was presented after a long council meeting.

At the April 26, 2004 caucus meeting with no job description provided, an old saying summarizes what happened at this caucus session, "the devil is in the details" for which council did not have at that time. On April 27, 2004, our CAO did a public announcement.

I found a copy on my desk, it had already been released and council was not supplied an advanced copy either. On April 28, 2004, I asked Mel Brechin for a copy of the job description and requested advice from the Professional Engineers of Ontario as to a non-engineer acting as Commissioner of Engineering and Planning.

The Professional Engineers of Ontario clearly stated that the work is within the practice of professional engineering.

This means a non-engineer could not meet the technical requirements of the job description.

Yet, our CAO did after the fact modify the job description at the direction of the PEO.

This is not correct or fair. It shows extreme favoritism for one candidate over another.

The integrity of this position must be impeccable as all major consultants and civil contracts are directed through this department.

A professional engineer is a specialist whose duty is to protect the public.

We require a professional engineer in this position to protect you the public.

These manipulations of the job description, reflects poorly on the integrity of City Hall.

Another way of viewing it could be the hiring of a specialist with critical technical experience.

After you hire him, you find he does not have the experience you thought but you relax your standards to accommodate him.

This is what happened.

You are not being served by this appointment, either financially or from a matter of public safety. In summary, I have requested independent legal advice and this request has not been granted to me by council.

It appears staff has leaked confidential caucus information.

There are ethical concerns about the hiring process and about changing the job description after the fact.

There are concerns about who will perform the engineering duties that were 80% of the job.

There are concerns about the high employment cost of this position, of which most of the job cannot be filled by Mr. Dolcetti.

There are concerns about public safety.

The integrity of City Hall is at stake.

Mayor John Rowswell, City of Sault Ste. Marie

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