Mayor Linnsie Clark attends Monday's council meeting, with Coun. Andy McGrogan the left.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Mayor Linnsie Clark told members of council and city staff Monday that she was denied her rights as a member of the public when she was refused information available through the Freedom of Information and Protection policy in a written inquiry.
She also told councillors they likely spent more public tax dollars preparing two briefing notes for their council package then the cost of fulfilling her information request.
“This council has spent more money thwarting public access to information than simply providing the information, and in my view that is not consistent with our strategic plan or basic values of democracy and good governance,” said Clark.
Clark said instead of being provided the information she requested, which included pay and reimbursement for city employees’ living expenses, she was met with “opposition from staff and members of council.”
“Some of those reasons included that this type of request is disrespectful and unprofessional, the information is confidential. Gathering and providing this information is a waste of staff’s time and so on.” Clark added.
Clark filed the written inquiry in February requesting financial information to be available for council at their regular meeting on March 4.
“As mayor, I’m entitled to the information pursuant to my legislative duties and obligations, as a member of council, pursuant to the municipal government act and my rights as a member of the public,” said Clark.
Her request was brought before council during a regular meeting on April 8 and was asked to provide a written briefing on why she was requesting the information. The request was again brought before council during the May 6 meeting and was met with opposition.
“Harmful and hurtful accusations against me, questioning my motivations, including that I was asking for this information for personal gain,” said Clark. “My request for this information should not be required of council’s permission, or the city manager’s permission.
The items of the written inquiry are between 2020 and 2023 and include the number of city employees paid or reimbursed for living expenses, as well as detailed accounting of all funds reallocated by city manager Ann Mitchell in 2023, including an itemized list of expenses and P-Card statements as well as each managing director.
The request also includes staff turnover statistics between 2020 and 2023 and severance agreements.
According to city staff in September, the information Clark requested would cost a total of $3,810.60 to provide.
According to the city the cost combines an average hourly rate for the “multiple people at different levels of staffing and leadership” that would be needed to work through the inquiries that include six total items. The city says it would take 36 hours to complete the work at an average hourly rate of $105.85.
“We averaged out an average wage with the hours and this is what we came up with,” said Karla Kochan, director of people services. “It’s not an exact science for sure, but this is on average what we’d be looking at if we did have to take on this work.”
However, Clark pointed out that a member of the public requested the same information for an estimated cost of $945, a difference of more than $2,800.
“Once again I reiterate my request for this information, and given that seven months have passed since my initial request, I also would like the same information for 2024.”
The city has also completed a jurisdictional scan of nine municipalities regarding their practices of severance disclosure and expense claims, and found six of those municipalities disclose mayor and council expenses, but only one discloses its senior management expenses.
According to the city the seven municipalities did not want their location to be shared, with the exception of St. Albert and Edmonton.
