Nickle and dimes - let’s see all the expenses
I was glad to see our city finally getting the message that taxpayers want open and transparent city government. Today’s Windsor Star article citing $35,000 in expenses for meals for councillors and administration for 57 meetings, works out to be about $614 a meeting. Now if 15 people attend each meeting, that is a $41.00 meal per person on average. I don’t have a particular problem with feeding our councillors and administration, contrary to the articles intention, though I believe some effort should be made to reduce this $41.00 per meal to around $25.00 a meal per person, and only when time requires it.
CAO John Skorobohacz wasn’t doing any favours, however in giving his explanation, “If the in-camera council meeting starts at 3:30 or 4 o’clock, the staff has been at work, they’ve had their lunch, mind you, but next thing you know, they’re going into that meeting and following that meeting they’re going right into the council meeting,” Skorobohacz explained.
But what of the councillors? They don’t have to be at “work” until 3:30 - can’t they pack a lunch once a week? Perhaps one should consider scheduling in-camera meetings on the Friday before Monday council meetings - problem solved.
But nonetheless, I applaud this openess and transparency, considering I emailed Onorio Colucci, the City’s Treasurer this email on February 28th, 2007:
“Dear Mr. Colucci:
I am requesting a copy of all personal mayoral expenses, including all expenses payable by the Mayor’s office as a whole. I would like to see an itemized list of these expenses from the beginning of fiscal year 2005 to the present. Itemized expenses include, but are not limited to, legal, communication, travel, hospitality, office supplies, consultants and any and all expenses incurred by the Mayor’s Office, and its staff.
I am writing to request this information because similar information is posted on the Government of Canada’s website, as well as other municipalities in Ontario, but cannot find this information on the City of Windsor’s website. If it is, could you provide the link? Or must I file a Freedom of Information request?”
His response came after Monday night council’s meeting on March 5:
Mr. Schnurr,
I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. Due to pressing workload issues, I am significantly behind in answering e-mails.
At this point I wish to confirm that the information you are requesting is not on the website. As soon as time permits, I will determine the ease of compilation of the information you are requesting and will advise as to what can be provided to you directly and what if any would require a freedom of information request.”
Other cities I have found, put this information on their city’s website including Toronto and Halifax, Nova Scotia to name but two. If our city is now committed to openess and transparency, our city should follow their lead and place all Mayoral and councillor expenses on the city’s website.
Rather than nit-pick at a $35,000 bill for food, that many in the private sector receive when working longer hours, let’s see the bigger picture and release all expenses incurred by our mayor, councillors and administrative staff.
March 8, 2007 at 12:20 am
I wouldn’t consider this nitpicking. What is one of the first things private sector employers do when they begin belt tightening? Reducing both staff and optional activities like travel and meals is certainly top of the list. See any of that occurring in Windsor?
When I worked in a local manufacturing plant I was required to deliver one cost savings idea every week worth $5,000.00 (one time or re-occurring) . As a department we had to deliver one per month worth $25,000. The end result of such attention to detail was the department shaved $3.5 million off it’s yearly budget. Most of these cost savings were actually a result of our Industrial Engineer, but the exercise trained all of us to look for savings wherever and whenever possible and work as a team to accomplish results. I expect no less of our councillors. That means looking at every item of discretionary spending and making the appropriate decisions.
March 8, 2007 at 9:15 am
The being made is that this article is being crafted, in my opinion, to take attention off another potential matter - mayoral expenses. $35,000 is a little high, but I’m not opposed to meals for staff that work from 9 a.m. to sometimes 10 p.m. at night.
Since our city appears to be moving in the direction of transparency, let’s see it all, and how much more money is being used for “discretionary” items such as travel, office supplies, lunches, etc.
March 8, 2007 at 9:34 am
Good luck with your request.
The mayor is seen to regularly dine at the Windsor Club atop the CIBC building and the Rennaissance Club in Detroit - both private member facilities with very pricey membership fees, the types of places where menus come with no prices, because if you need to ask the price you don’t belong there - who is footing the bill for that?
How many expenses to out of town meetings with border players will he own up to without revealing the level of his backroom shenanigans on that file? How many expenses for dinners with his arena deal partners?
Like I said, good luck with your request. You won’t get much. Eddie Francis thinks he’s the mayor of Chicago, Illinois, not the mayor of Windsor, Ontario.
March 8, 2007 at 9:47 am
I don’t have a problem with City staff who are working late getting a meal, but the councillors are another matter. They are very well paid, above the median income for full time workers in this City for a part time position, why should taxpayers foot the bill for TBQ dinners for them the one night a week they are expected to be at City Hall?
How many people in this City have a 41 dollar take out meal once a week?
I think the Star article had it right when they compared the amount to that spent in Toronto.
You are being far too easy on them here. Beyond the immediate costs, it is indicative of a culture of entitlement that is out of control at City Hall.
March 8, 2007 at 10:22 am
I agree on seeing all the expenses.
As far as staff goes, if required, pay a reasonable per diem not a catered meal. Councillors are on their own.
March 8, 2007 at 10:23 am
I guess per diem is probably the wrong term - meal allowance. Same point.
March 10, 2007 at 4:11 pm
The unionized staff at the City of Windsor receive $12.00 meal allowance if they are required to work two hours beyond their scheduled work day. That seems to be a fair benchmark, doesn’t it?
March 15, 2007 at 1:37 am
What burns me up, is that the gravy doesnt trickle down. I was a volunteer on a citizen advisory committee for the city and we got to bring our own water bottles. No weak coffee! No Timbits, No nuthin,, phhhttttt!
A good manager knows how to squeeze the lower ranks, so that everything look fiscally prudent.
Its the same thing with the capitol.. freeze out the stupid low-rent cultural crowd; they will whine creatively and it will look like top management is really pushing the austerity program. Then give yourself another raise.
Yup..
March 16, 2007 at 1:42 pm
As a city employee, if we do get a meal, it is nothing compared to the extravaganza that Council gets. Pita’s or pasta with canned pop or bottled water and maybe a dessert tray. And I’ll second Kurtz Weber’s comments about the various committees. The food budget for most committees is zero. Sometimes, the chair of the committee may buy timbits or cookies.