Brighton council. Back row left to right, Mary Tadman, Mayor Mark Walas, Laura Vink. Front row left to right Roger McMurray, Steve Baker, Brian Ostrander, John Martinello.
It’s no secret that there’s been a lot of tension between Mayor and Council in Brighton and some municipal staff, and a consultants’
report coming to a council meeting Monday sheds light on the problem.
Since the spring of 2015, Brighton has lost a Chief Administrative Officer and several other senior and middle managers. A new CAO was
hired only recently.
In a report by Pesce and Associates Human Resources Consultants, the issues and possible solutions to problems involving the relationship between members of council and staff are outlined.
The firm held confidential interviews with members of council and selected staff. The report says the response was open and honest.
Senior staff in Brighton felt disrespected, devalued, and demeaned by the actions, inactions, and statements made by members of council.
After the interviews, the consultants concluded that there indeed was a bad relationship festering between some staff and council.
The report says some members of council didn’t really understand their roles and the roles of staff and didn’t understand appropriate decorum and procedure and that some didn’t care about decorum or procedure.
Some on council didn’t understand the difference between “political governance” and “corporate management” and didn’t care about the “chain of command.”
The report suggests the Mayor and Council immediately attempt to begin a process to improve the workplace atmosphere in the municipality.
The consultants suggest that members of council be educated on exactly what their roles are and be given an understanding of how complex the running of a municipality actually is.
Consultants stress that Council should be guiding the municipality, not managing its day to day business.
Click below to see the entire report. It begins on page 35 of the agenda package.
http://www.brighton.ca/photos/custom/2016/agendas/20160718%20Council%20July%2018,%202016.pdf
Brighton council meets at 6:30 Monday in council chambers.
