The outgoing chair of the London Police Services Board is taking a swipe at the city's chief administrative officer.
In a letter addressed to members of city council, Paul Paolatto claims Art Zuidema showed a "concerning level of indifference to our board, the Ontario Civilian Police Commission and the appeals process.”
Paolatto's letter, and its accusations, will be the subject of a special meeting of the city's Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee this Friday. That meeting will be followed by a meeting of full council.
The letter starts by thanking members of council for revisiting the Police Services Board's budget request and "finding the financial resources necessary for us to deliver on our public safety mandate." The $2.7-million agreement was approved by council last week, but Paolatto has said a proposed agreement reached in February would have cost taxpayers more than $1-million less than that. The letter also explains why the board went to the media as a means of communicating with council and the public regarding its appeal to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.
"To be clear, it was never the intention of the Negotiating Committee to seek remedy of our budget dispute with Council through the media," the letter states. "In fact, we full expected to address this matter either through direct dialogue with council, civic administration, and/or the appeal process itself. However, when a potential compromise inexplicably failed to reach the council floor for your consideration in late February, and the CAO's Office began to exhibit a concerning level of indifference to our board, the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, and the appeal process: the committee felt it necessary to seek an alternative means of communicating directly with council on the importance of this budget and our desire to resolve the dispute quickly and cost effectively."
Paolatto's letter contains a chronological breakdown that includes eight occasions in which he alleges Zuidema's office did not respond to correspondence from the board.
"Thankfully, council and the board found a way to resolve this matter amicably, and both parties have expressed a desire to review future budgets in a much more constructive and collaborative manner," the letter says. "Unfortunately, the board's Negotiating Committee still has some concerns over its working relationship with the CAO's office."
According to the letter, the Police Services Board is ready to meet with Zuidema to "better understand why there was a breakdown in the process."
The letter can be read by clicking here.
