On page 5 of Linton’s submission it stated, “Based on your project objectives, scope and requirements, we have designed the below methodology to complete this project mid-May 2024. Subsequent pages detail the proposed sequence of phases, activities, level of effort, timelines and deliverables. This methodology is flexible to allow revisions to the sequence of activities and / or the timelines if required.“
As the webmaster writes this, it is the beginning of September 2024, and Kelly Linton has not contacted me to provide the dates, times and locations for the 2-3 community focus group sessions.
Below are the pages in which Linton describes its proposed schedule / work plan.
4th line: Linton accurately refers to the CAO & Directors as “senior management”. The CAO’s Office, in its RFP, describes themselves as the “Corporate Leadership Team” – using capital letters!
You’ll note that Phase 2, 2nd line, states “one-on-one interviews“. Linton means with the CAO’s office, not with the citizens.
You’ll also note that at Phase 2, Linton plans to “checkpoint” with the CAO?senior team to to get approval on the content of the planning process so far. Significantly absent is any reference to the Mayor and Council. The conclusion a reasonable citizen could reach is that, “This is a strategic plan designed to meet the needs, interests, goals, aspirations of the CAO/senior administration team and NOT those of the citizens!“
You’ll note (red on the above page) that the Council (and Mayor) only get to see the Strategic Plan at the very end and has no structured opportunity to redirect the process onto a track they may identify as different than the one the CAO’s office has determined.
The inclusion of an “online dashboard” is a SIGNIFICANTLY POSITIVE ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENT FOR ALL HIRED STAFF. It is essential for tracking all staff actions toward implementing specific actions under broad goals so that all particpants, incuding the public can track – regularly – who has been doing what, who is doing what now, what they plan to do next. This is an essential tool for ensuring accountability as is the OMA description of the Council’s duty. This should be available monthly at the least.
“ANNUAL REPORTING In conjunction with the annual work program, each year the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) will provide a report updating Council and the community on the progress of staff in meeting this Strategic Plan.” – [page 21]
This is essential, as the present requirement for annual reports to the Council and the citizens regarding the progress achieved by all staff regarding each action item, as required in the existing Strategic Plan (page 21 has not been done by the CAO’s office for any years in the past. This is a failure by the CAO’s office, and the Councils, for not doing their legislated duty! The decision letter on July 2, 2024, as a result of an FOI Request submitted by the webmaster asking for these annual reports, the answer was,
“You have requested access to the following information:
“Please supply me with copies of: 1. The annual reports that update the community on the progress of staff in meeting this Strategic Plan for the years 2016 to year end 2023.”
Staff have conducted a search for the requested records. This decision reflects the results of their search.
Decision
Despite a thorough and reasonable search, staff have been unable to locate any records related to your request. Access, therefore, cannot be granted as the records do not exist.“