Having witnessed city manager Patrick Draper’s response in a public council meeting on March 21 to our report detailing the hire of Gilles Prefontaine from council to chief community development officer, I have the following comments.
Draper used general and unsubstantiated statements to refute the validity of the report specifically with respect to whether Prefontaine’s hiring caused the subsequent mass exodus. Within three weeks of Mr. Prefontaine’s hire, high-level longstanding employees began leaving. The positions which left in the eight months after his hire are as follows: Director of engineering, Manager- Engineering Services, Director-Capital Projects and Municipal Engineering, Capital Projects Manager, Engineering Assistant, Director of Planning and Development, Senior Planner and Landscape Architect. These people had pivotal roles and are a significant loss to the people of St. Albert. Mr. Draper ascertains that the employees left for a variety of reasons. However, it is unlikely a person hoping for a favourable referral would cite a controversial hire as a reason for leaving.
Draper was extremely hostile towards council, refusing to address almost all their questions and not addressing the fact that despite not having an under graduate degree, which was a minimum requirement in the re-written and reduced job qualification requirement, Prefontaine was hired. He also didn’t satisfactorily address how the six motions made by Prefontaine directly relating to the department which occurred within the two months between his interview and resignation may have affected his getting the position, or fully reveal his role in Draper’s own performance evaluation. Draper claims that he is delegated to handle hiring and he can do so with no interference or question from council. I think he is confused as he reports to his employer (council – all of council), he should be advising them in camera as needed. If he is working autonomously but is supposed to be the employee reporting to council, then is no one reporting to council?
Draper does state Prefontaine is doing a “fabulous” job. Fabulous is a subjective term. To some it means experienced, educated and strongly independent, to others it means follows orders without question. We can’t define it and, given the hiring situation, if he said anything else he would be in danger of criticizing himself.
Draper continuously refers to the agency Davies Park which is an executive search agency as being in support of this hire. This firm is an excellent, credible firm; however, they too are subject to the old adage “the client is always right.” Their role is to find candidates and assist in any of the processes surrounding hiring. The client has ultimate decision-making power throughout the entire process including who to interview, whose resume to select and who to hire.
When a sitting councillor who has just been elected by the citizens of St. Albert to serve them in the capacity of councillor for a period of four years hands in their resume for a job, which places them in an apparent conflict of interest position throughout the hiring and would cause them to break their covenant with the citizens that employ you, a very large, very red flag should go up. Rules and laws cannot cover everything so we rely on people, especially those in positions of trust, to act in the best interests of the people. Not only does that councillor looking to leave his job reek of a lack of accountability to the people he promised to serve but also demonstrates a lack of ability to commit. Neither of these traits are desirable in any position let alone a senior position. This move also immediately and directly cost the taxpayers, not only in dollars to the tune of $120,000 but also their city’s reputation and the time they had to spend, once again, vetting candidates.
During Mr. Draper’s report, councillors Cathy Heron, Wes Brodhead and Tim Osborne as well as Mayor Nolan Crouse were deafeningly silent. We deserve to be represented with pride and attention to high moral standards. We deserve to have councillors and public servants who act in our best interests not only at the warm, fun events but also when challenging situations need to be addressed and rectified. Personal relationships or allegiances must be put aside and the needs of the electorate must be paramount. Council must be willing to ask tough questions, to make bold moves when needed and to protect the reputation of our city and citizens. Council must work together.
Kristin Toms, St. Albert
