Privacy?

Mayor Robert Quaiff answers questions—sort of

Last week, the Times published an editorial criticizing the manner in which the County parted ways with its CAO, Merlin Dewing. In a statement, Mayor Robert Quaiff was quoted as saying, “Dewing’s leadership style no longer aligns with Council’s preferred corporate administration approach. In order for Council to maintain focus on our goals and priorities, we have come to a mutual agreement that Dewing’s term as CAO should conclude.”

The editorial ended by demanding answers from Quaiff. It suggested he showed weak leadership and followed the mob. It asked him to explain what his plan would be for the rest of this term of council. We gave Quaiff a chance to explain himself.

Mayor Robert Quaiff’s desk is a large and imposing relic of Shire Hall, just one of the heavy pieces of oak furnishing the old building. Sitting across from him is uncomfortable, imposing.

Quaiff himself is not as imposing as the position he carries— literally, and as a job title—would suggest. He looks serious and speaks deliberately.

When Quaiff gets the question, he answers it confidently. He’s ready to answer it, which is a good thing, since he’s probably heard about nothing more for the past few days. What’s his plan?

“Our plan is business as usual, we just have a different CAO in that capacity. None of our vision, none of our goals—none of our sense of change, if you will—none of that’s going to change. It’s the same,” Quaiff explains. “We’ve kept the same goals, we’ve kept the same strategies, we’re on the same visionary course that we were, it’s just a different guy at the helm.”

This doesn’t seem to mesh with the statement he made a week ago. The follow-up question makes him stumble. So the former CAO was not meeting the goals that council had?

“I would say that the former CAO—that wasn’t it. I think—” Quaiff pauses, purses his lips. “You have to understand I have to be very careful and cautious here, because anyth ing I can say, because we’re still in that agreement stage, you know, is that, but I would say that both parties lost confidence in each other in a mutually agreed upon level. And that’s where I’ve got to leave that.”

Then of course, there’s the issue of money. There isn’t much of it. If squabbles over which roads to fix and gripes over steep property taxes are any indication, it’s spread very thin.

It was revealed in March with the publication of the Public Sector Salary Disclosure (commonly referred to as the sunshine list) that in 2014, Dewing’s position cost the County nearly $237,000. A 21.73 per cent rise from the 2013 figure. That’s when Dewing’s contract was renewed for three years.

He had 19 months left on that contract when his job was terminated. Quaiff says it was a mutually agreed upon decision, and that council voted unanimously to approve it.

With the negotiation of such a steep pay raise, it’s hard to imagine the exit clause was miserly. Council’s tight lips have, unfortunately, left it to our imaginations—for now.

“There’s people out there that think they have the right to know. But what they have to remember is that the individual that’s involved has a right to his privacy,” explains Quaiff, although when it’s pointed out to him that, as stakeholders, County taxpayers have a legitimate reason to ask, he agrees.

“It is a legitimate reason. And it is a legitimate question to be asked of council. But on the same token, municipal councillors are liable. To a certain degree, they’re liable and responsible for their actions of what they say. And until somebody changes the laws of Ontario, there’s only so much information that municipal council and mayors are allowed to divulge.”

The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act does state that a public employer can’t release information about staff. But a clause in that law states that disclosing a contract, salary range and benefits of a public employee is exempt. It is not considered an invasion of privacy.

Quaiff is ready to rebuff other criticisms. He says he is on track to deliver on campaign promises. He has opened a dialogue with the minister of health and long term care about the state of healthcare in the County. He has called a council meeting to begin looking at the size of council and, if councillors are willing, have that change in place for the next election. He is starting a monthly Mayor’s Coffee, a morning meeting that will allow residents to discuss their concerns with him. He says the first one will likely be held on May 1.“People may think that we’re not doing a lot, but I beg to differ. I think we are. I think we’ve done quite a bit since we’ve got in. People may refer to that as we’re picking the low-hanging fruit—so be it. But the real governance is coming,” says Quaiff. “I’m not running away, I’m not hiding, I’m right here, and I think some good things will come.”