Stage one of the city’s $256,000 audit is now complete. 12 areas of the city’s services could be put under the microscope in the next stage of the major review.
Grant Thornton LLP spokesperson Clemens Rettich says Council must decide whether to approve the closer look at things like childcare, roads, and parks.
The areas of note also include human resources, corporate information and technology, long-term care homes, fleets and facilities services, recreation and culture, solid waste, waterworks and wastewater services, the Sister Cities program, and Thunder Bay’s general human resources.
Rettich also pointed out sprawl as one of the city’s current issues they noticed. He clarifies that sprawl includes both urban sprawl and inefficiencies in the city’s services with “new programs piled on top of existing programs.”
The consulting firm also suggests the city establish a project management office and possibly put a freeze on any new projects in the meantime.
Stage two will include reviews of staffing and documents, further interviews with city staff, and focus on “performance and productivity, organizational structure, and budgets,” Rettich explains. He expects it should be complete in June of 2020.
Council will decide whether to go ahead to the second phase on December 16th.
