City councillor Fred Francis, who is running for mayor, has decided not to participate in an external review of council procedures due to concerns about potential bias. The $24,000 contract was awarded to GT & Co by city staff to address council’s issues, such as deferring items, report filing timelines, and time limits for councillor remarks. While all councillors were invited to join the review, Francis opted out because it is led by Andrew Teliszewsky, Mayor Drew Dilkens’ former chief of staff.
City Chief Administrative Officer Ray Mensour explained that the contract with GT & Co was sole-sourced due to the workload in the Council Services department focused on the upcoming election. Mensour praised the firm’s experience with municipalities and expects the review to provide valuable insights for the next council term.
Dilkens, who has not confirmed his re-election plans, stated he was not involved in selecting the firm and defended the decision, highlighting Teliszewsky’s expertise. Despite Francis expressing discomfort with the review process, other councillors like Frazier Fathers, Ed Sleiman, and Angelo Marignani have agreed to participate.
Francis raised concerns about potential bias in the review, especially considering Teliszewsky’s past ties to the mayor’s office. Marignani, after discussing his concerns with Teliszewsky, believes the review is focused on administrative quality control. Dilkens anticipates that all councillors, except Francis and one other unnamed councillor, will eventually join the review.
In response to criticisms, Francis clarified that his decision not to participate was not a reflection of anyone’s integrity but rather a matter of comfort regarding sharing his ideas with someone linked to the mayor’s office. He emphasized that his proposed solutions for city hall improvements will soon be public on his platform.