Parked Motion:
MOVED in AMENDMENT by Trustee Di Giorgio, seconded by Trustee Martino, that:
WHEREAS: I requested the opportunity for all Board members to examine the existing agreement for Integrity Commissioner services, prior to expiration of the agreement, however the request was denied;
WHEREAS: The Board has been put in an undesirable situation, given that the potential extension or termination of existing Integrity Commissioner services did not come to Board at the appropriate time as a result of the inadvertence of both Board Staff and the existing vendor;
WHEREAS: As a result of this error, the Board has allegedly unknowingly extended their relationship with this vendor and continued to provide the associated renumeration to the vendor for services rendered, without a formal extension of services and the associated funds approved by the Board which may violate the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s (TCDSB) fair hiring practices and the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act;
WHEREAS: The office of the Integrity Commissioner plays a vital role in the organization and it is important that all pending investigations and future complainants and stakeholders continue to have access to the services of an Integrity Commissioner in a timely manner if the Board chooses to switch vendors; and
WHEREAS: There is less than a year outstanding prior to a new Board being elected at the TCDSB. Based on potential timing pressures created as a result of the error outlined above, authorizing the Chair to hire an Interim Integrity Commissioner may be the more prudent course of action if the Board decides to change vendors;
1)
a) BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Board direct the Chair to hire an Interim Integrity Commissioner, as soon as possible, to take carriage of all pending complaints and future complaints until December 1, 2022 ensuring continuity of service for all stakeholders;
b) BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The Board direct the Director of Education to notify the existing Integrity Commissioner vendor that their contract term has expired and that the Board has only recently become aware of this information and is choosing to not exercise the renewal option made available in the original agreement;
c) BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: A report come to the first available meeting of the future Board of Trustees (Term: 2022-2026) to set the terms for a future RFP (Request for Proposal) with respect to procuring Integrity Commissioner services following the proposed Interim Integrity Commissioner completing their term;
2)
a) BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Staff report back to Board regarding the development of an internal tracking mechanism for contracts throughout the TCDSB (if it does not already exist) to ensure any contracts coming up for expiration are flagged in advance to ensure fair hiring practices are observed and best practices in general are observed throughout all branches of the organization; and
b) BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Staff report back to Board on any services currently being provided to the Board and/or the TCDSB, if any, resulting in public monies being spent without the appropriate Board approvals or updated contracts in place.