When it comes to hiring municipal staff, Mayor Lou Maieron doesn’t believe existing staff should be first in line for those jobs.
On Nov. 19, Maieron raised a motion to amend the personnel hiring policy so that jobs would be posted internally and externally at the same time.
In addition, he asked that existing staff be given preference “only when their qualifications, experience and other relevant factors are deemed equal to those of the external candidate.”
Maieron said he has heard concerns from the public that the town was generally hiring from within.
“As a corporation, we should be an equal opportunity employer and give the opportunity for any resident with equal or similar qualifications.”
Councillor John Brennan commented on the portion of the resolution which stated existing staff would be given preference if factors were considered “equal” to the external candidate.
“Considered equal by whom?” Brennan asked.
He suggested that decision should be in the hands of the CAO and the relevant department.
Councillor Barb Tocher contended the municipality spends a fair amount of time training personnel within the organization.
“We also encourage our personnel to acquire new skills through training and taking courses. Part of the succession planning is ensuring staff are being trained to take over some of the job openings which occur.”
Tocher added, “I firmly believe this is a solid business practice in the private and public sector to post internally first … if there is no qualified candidate then post the job externally.”
Councillor Josie Wintersinger added that when applying for a position, people often look at the potential opportunity for advancement in that organization.
“We should recognize that.”
Maieron said, “In rebuttal, I think the town has to do the best by its residents. New blood is not a bad thing – it brings in some vigour and some new ideas.”
He said the amendment wasn’t to exclude internal candidates, “all I am suggesting is to give the external candidate an opportunity as well for a job which could be considered as a public company.
“I would like to see the town be an equal opportunity employer in the sense that if a job is available, everyone gets the chance to apply.”
Brennan agreed it was a good practice to look everywhere.
“In the end, you want the best candidate.”
However, Brennan said qualifications, experience and other factors should be considered for internal candidates who have the experience and additional training.
“If you continually never look outside – that’s a problem. But if you always look outside, that is a problem as well. You need a healthy mix” said Brennan.
Tocher added that based on her experience “time and time again, we do tend to be a significant training ground for people to move to another municipality.”
Tocher explained that while Erin is on the verge of the GTA, it faces financial constraints some municipalities to the south do not.
“We tend to attract people who are trying to get a position in a small municipality in order to move up – quite frequently and quite regularly.”
Tocher said, “that is another reason to nuture the staff we do have.”
CAO Kathryn Ironmonger said that part of the municipality’s existing policy is that the CAO has the option to review and make a decision whether a posting is done internally or internally and externally.
Maieron said cost needs to be a factor to be considered as well. He said some employees have been with the municipality for a long time and are at the top of their pay scale.
Maieron contended that bringing in someone new could provide cost savings.
He contended that in the private sector, “the turnaround rate for staff is about five years and in the municipal sector much higher.”
Wintersinger said, ‘If there is a person employed at the top of their scale, and you bring in someone at a lower pay just to save money, you’re not exactly being fair to your current employees.”
Maieron contended, “If staff are at the top of their pay scales, you don’t move someone sideways to bring in someone new when the opportunity exists to bring in someone new, with new ideas.”
The proposed amendment by Maieron was defeated.
Tocher said it would be good to reinforce the existing policy.
Maieron said “as it stands positions are only posted externally if the CAO so deems.”
