The City of Quinte West approved a plan for one additional staff member while asking for a detailed report on the business case for the three other roles.
The decision was made during a special council meeting regarding the 2024 budget on Monday.
Currently, Quinte West has fewer than seven full-time staff for each 1,000 residents.
That is considerably lower than the average of over 11 full-time in four comparable municipalities.
In comparison, communities are spending an average of 38% of operating costs on staff salaries and benefits while Quinte West spends about 28% on staff remuneration.
An organizational review in 2021 concluded Quinte West was under-resourced and a survey of staff showed two thirds of respondents believed workload was over capacity and that the city could not meet its future goals as outlined in a strategic plan.
Before discussion of the roles, Chief Administrative Officer David Clazie spoke on the need to increase staffing at city hall to meet a certain service level.
“We certainly feel, and I certainly feel, that if we’re not adding at least four new positions every year, we’re going to really struggle to even maintain the level of service that we’re providing right now,” Clazie told council.
While councillors agreed that staffing levels should be maintained at a certain level, council passed a motion to receive the report but look at roles being offered by the city on a case-by-case basis.
“I don’t think just putting a number in a budget and saying this is how much more stuff we’re going to get each year is a prudent way for financing,” Stedall said while putting forward the motion.
“I think what we need to know is what the positions will be each year when we come back to our budgets rather than just giving a carte blanche number and pre-approve for future years.”
The decision was made in a recorded vote, 11-2.
Voting yes were Jim Alyea, Duncan Armstrong, Egerton Boyce, Zack Card, Sally Freeman, Michael Kotsovos, David McCue, David O’Neil, Lynda Reid, Karen Sharpe, and Shelley Stedall.
No votes came from Councillor Don Kuntze and Mayor Jim Harrison.
Approved by city council was a fire-training officer following input from Quinte West Fire Chief, John Whelan.
In a recorded vote on the fire-training officer role, the motion was narrowly passed seven to five.
Those who voted yes included councillors Jim Alyea, Duncan Armstrong, Zack Card, Michael Kotsovos, Don Kuntze, David O’Neil, and Mayor Jim Harrison.
Those who voted no included councillors Egerton Boyce, Sally Freeman, Lynda Reid, Karen Sharpe and Shelley Stedall.
David McCue recused himself due to a conflict of interest.
Regarding the other positions, council voted on having more detailed reports on the business case for the other roles while having the funding for those roles still accounted for in the budget.
The recorded vote was passed 11-2.
Voting yes were Jim Alyea, Duncan Armstrong, Egerton Boyce, Zack Card, Sally Freeman, Michael Kotsovos, David McCue, David O’Neil, Lynda Reid, Karen Sharpe, Shelley Stedall and Mayor Jim Harrison.
No votes came from Councillors Egerton Boyce and Don Kuntze.
With files from Quinte News’ John Spitters
