Ward 1 city councillor and mayoral candidate, Fred Francis, has opted out of participating in an external review of council procedures due to concerns regarding the involvement of Mayor Drew Dilkens’ former chief of staff. The $24,000 contract was awarded to GT & Co by city staff to address various issues raised by the city council, such as the deferral of items when delegates are present, timelines for staff reports, and potential time limits for councillors’ remarks.
While all councillors were invited to partake in the review, Francis declined citing his candidacy for mayor and the perceived conflict of interest with Andrew Teliszewsky, who served as Dilkens’ chief of staff from 2020 to 2023. Francis expressed that it would be more beneficial for staff to hear from newly elected councillors after the upcoming fall elections rather than from current candidates like himself.
The review, initiated by the city’s chief administrative officer Ray Mensour, was awarded to GT & Co on a sole-source basis due to the heavy workload within the Council Services department, particularly in preparation for the upcoming city-wide election. Mensour highlighted the firm’s experience in working with municipalities, emphasizing their fresh perspective in ensuring timely completion of the review and recommendations for the next council term.
Despite Dilkens’ assurance that he had no involvement in selecting the firm conducting the review, Francis questioned the propriety of sharing potential campaign details with a consultant, especially one with ties to the mayor’s office. Other councillors, including Frazier Fathers, Ed Sleiman, and Angelo Marignani, confirmed their participation in the review, with Marignani expressing confidence in the process after addressing his concerns with Teliszewsky.
While Dilkens anticipates that the unnamed councillor will eventually commit to the review, he expects Francis to continue raising objections to the process in the media. Francis clarified that his decision not to participate was not a reflection on anyone’s integrity but rather stemmed from his discomfort in sharing his ideas for improving city hall with someone associated with the mayor’s office.