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Former mayor Jim Gordon has some harsh words for city hall

Says city council has lost control of the administration
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Jim Gordon, the former mayor of Greater Sudbury and former MPP, has some strong words for city hall in the wake of the release of a report on the preferred location of a new event centre. (File)

Former mayor Jim Gordon has some strong words for city hall.

“I think the mayor and council have lost control of the administration,” Gordon said today.

Gordon said he reached out to Sudbury.com because he was incensed on Monday to see CAO Ed Archer flanked by two senior city bureaucrats (Citizen Services Director Ron Henderson on the left and Economic Development Director Ian Wood on the right) briefing media on one of the most important documents the city has produced in recent years: the report on the preferred location for an event centre that could cost the city around $100 million to build.

The former mayor, MPP and cabinet minister said he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the three bureaucrats answering questions from the media on a report that hadn’t yet been presented to council. That won’t happen until June 27, the date of the next city council meeting.

Given its stated commitment to transparent and open government, the city has been making meeting agendas public much earlier, more than a week in advance in some instances. This was the case with the event centre location report, which is why city officials sat down with media on Monday to review it.

But as far as Gordon is concerned, for city staff to interact directly with media in that way before having presented the report formally to elected officials is “putting the cart before the horse.” And he lays the blame squarely at the feet of CAO Ed Archer. 

“If I was mayor, he’d be packing his bags,” Gordon said. “Transparency is going to council with facts and letting them hear it first … then let the media report on what was seen and said.

“This is one of the biggest projects we’ll ever do for years to come. Elements of the report would require an entire council meeting to discuss. And then it should be put out to the public with options — give the public a chance to chew on it.

“This is no way to run a city.”

He likens the situation to the presentation of Fire and Paramedic Chief Trevor Bain’s fire optimization plan public meetings held in the winter. Council asked Bain to produce the report, but then he went around the city holding public meetings that poorly articulated the purpose of the exercise.

“That never should’ve happened,” Gordon said. “It should’ve gone to the CAO and then to council.”

Gordon also said instead of putting the issue to a vote next week, councillors and the public should be given more consideration. 

“(Council should have time to) listen, ask questions, consult with the public and let the public have an opportunity to make recommendations. And then you vote,” he said.

Gordon said he has an opinion on where the new event centre should go, but said “at this late stage” he’d rather not express that opinion.


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Mark Gentili

About the Author: Mark Gentili

Mark Gentili is the editor of Sudbury.com
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