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IQALUIT
Tempers flared at a recent Iqaluit city council meeting over the re-appointment of John Hussey as chief administrative officer (CAO).

Councillors Terry Dobbin and Kenny Bell went on the offensive Aug. 27, questioning council's decision to renew Hussey's contract until Dec. 31, 2017.

The renewal had previously passed first and second reading at council's Aug. 13 meeting without discussion.

Both Dobbin and Bell, who were on holiday at the time, were absent from that meeting. Dobbin raised the possibility that perhaps the occurrence hadn't been a fluke, and added all important decisions require the full sitting of council.

"I've noticed that the re-appointment of the CAO John Hussey received first and second reading while councillor Bell and myself were on vacation," Dobbin said.

"Was that a coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. I think rushing the re-appointment of the CAO is a great disservice to the citizens of Iqaluit."

While it isn't unheard of for councillors to take part in meetings by calling in, Dobbin claims he was out of cellphone range at the time, while Bell said he was in transit.

Dobbin stressed the importance of keeping council as transparent as possible, asking why there would be no discussion or debate allowed for the bylaw's third and final reading.

Section 47 of Iqaluit's council procedures state the "third reading of a bylaw shall be decided without amendment or debate, unless otherwise decided by a majority of council members."

Dobbin's motion to re-open discussion subsequently failed because five councillors voted against it.

He also brought up the matter of Michele Bertol's court case against the city.

Dobbin said no one knows what the city paid Bertol, Iqaluit's former planning and lands director, who sued the city for wrongful dismissal in 2011, in the settlement. She was seeking more than $700,000 in damages.

"It should be public knowledge as in the end, it's the public that pays the bill," he said.

In Bell's opening councillor statement, he presented copies of CAO bylaws from various municipalities around Canada, including one which is approximately 20 pages long.

He said Iqaluit's CAO bylaw - which is a half-page in length - is an example of the lack of transparency.

"I think it's strange no one wants to know how much our CAO is being paid or what his benefits are," he said. "Has a performance review been done? Why weren't these questions asked at the time (of the first and second readings)?"

In some municipalities, the CAO's duties and responsibilities are detailed in the CAO bylaw, but not in Iqaluit.

Bell said inquiries made via e-mail to Mayor John Graham about the municipality's $40-million swimming pool project weren't adequately answered.

As a result, Bell said he would make a request to the Department of Community and Government Services to appoint a municipal inspector to "start looking into what goes on at the city.

"If I can't have discussions to make motions to get things, then I am ineffective," he said.

"I was voted by the people of Iqaluit and I'm here to represent them, and I'm trying my best."

In the end, the third reading to renew Hussey's contract was passed, with councillors Dobbin and Bell voting against the motion.

Following the meeting, mayor John Graham explained the reasoning behind renewing the CAO's contract six months before it expires.

"The reason why the item was brought forward at the meeting on Aug. 13 is because of a date which was set in the existing memorandum of agreement," he said. "The re-appointment goes along with a memorandum of agreement which, among other things, states what the compensation package is for the CAO, as well as his duties and responsibilities.

"It also states we have to give the CAO six months notice whether we are renewing his contract or not. It really benefits both parties as it gives us (council) six months to look for someone else if the contract is not renewed, and it gives the CAO six months to look for something else."

Graham said the agreement was still under legal review and would be presented to council as soon as possible.

Hussey has been the city's CAO since Oct. 1, 2007.

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