A standing wish of Mayor Linnsie Clark for the public release of administrator expense data will become a reality in Medicine Hat on Monday after council voted 8-0 to approve a motion by Coun. Andy McGrogan to publish the data.--News Photo Collin Gallant
@@CollinGallant
Medicine Hat councillors have voted to reveal the expenses of top city hall staff, but believe there will be little to see.
The issue has hung over council since last spring, when Mayor Linnsie Clark began calling for the information in the midst of a high-profile dispute between her and the rest of council.
On Monday, Coun. Andy McGrogan cited the mayor’s requests and standing practice at some other Alberta cities while introducing the motion for to publish twice-yearly expense reports of city hall managers.
“The mayor and some members of the public have attempted to obtain (expense) information,” he said, but noted that public requests require a Freedom of Information and Privacy request and fees.
“We’ve preached transparency and accountability from the beginning … it’s a responsible step.”
The motion was approved by an 8-0 vote at Monday’s meeting,
The motion would require administration to publish detailed expense information from the city manager, and division heads, known as managing directors, and department heads, known as directors, twice each year.
That includes travel, meals, hosting and any spending on employee recognition, similar to what’s published about city council members, as well as staff in St. Albert and Lethbridge.
Clark welcomed the move Monday.
“I’m glad it’s come forward and I appreciate that we’ve gotten to this place,” she said. “I’d still like to have backward looking (previous years) data, but I’ll support this.”
Clark asked for much the same this last fall, noting the same argument about requiring FOIP applications, which can be costly and a long process.
At the time in 2024, the request, made in open council, resulted in no official action, while some councillors stated they worried about the information being “weaponized” to bolster mistrust.
On Monday, a former opponent, Coun. Robert Dumanowski, said he was not opposed.
“It’s not about our affinity for any particular city managers, but it’s reasonable in an environment where the public is requesting it,” he said. “There will always be scrutiny around it … I just want to caution everyone to use a level head when looking at (the data).
“(City staff) have to do their jobs and, yes, sometimes that includes lunch meetings … Going to conferences is, too, and meeting with counterparts in other parts of the province, and I expect that.”
Coun. Ramona Robins said that as a manager with the Alberta Justice her salary, benefits and expenses have been public in the past.
“If taxpayers want to know how much I spent for lunch, I’m fine with it,” she said. “I think it’s fine to say we have (expense) policies, and the people who work here follow the policies, so let’s show our cards on this one.”
Coun. Shila Sharps seconded the motion on Monday.
“There’s criticism of my expenses, because I go to events and try to learn about best practices from other cities, counties and provincial information,” she said. “I’d rather have it out there.”
Later in the night, council also debated two motions from Sharps to publish human resources data, and an oversee of severance payments.
The workforce data, including workforce size, turnover, contractors, workers compensation and disability statistics, would be published on the city’s website. Severance values would be provided to council’s audit committee several times each year.
