Walter
11-17-2005, 09:13 AM
I believe it is important to get staff together to discuss issues and to say thanks but when you consider the wailings from city hall about fiscal matters you would think this type of get together could be done for a lot less money......
By SUE-ANN LEVY
Some 550 Toronto welfare workers are expected to "mix and mingle" with their colleagues at a $50,000 shindig slated for tonight at Roy Thomson Hall, the Sun has learned.
And this is the fifth year such a shmoozefest -- called the "Living the Vision" forum -- has been approved by senior city staff and held at the same swanky locale, seemingly without most of council's knowledge.
The doors open at 5 p.m. and the festivities are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with the formal planning and recognition part of the program. The rest of the event -- from 7 to 9 p.m. -- has been set aside for a "Mix and Mingle."
The city's general manager of social services, Heather MacVicar, didn't return several phone calls from the Sun and brushed aside all questions at a budget committee meeting yesterday, citing a "family emergency."
But Brenda Nesbitt, director of social services, told me during the first hour or so they sit people down in the theatre while MacVicar and deputy city manager Sue Corke talk about "accomplishments" for the past year and priorities for 2006.
AWARDS
After that, front-line staff from each of the 14 offices -- either one staff member or a team -- get recognition awards for their "client service," a community piece of work or something innovative they've done, based on recommendations from their peers.
During the last two hours attendees will be served hors d'oeuvres prepared by award-winning caterer Daniel et Daniel and can take advantage of a cash bar, if they wish. Any leftover food goes to Second Harvest, she said.
When originally reached on Monday, Nesbitt referred me to Corke for cost details. In a 7:30 a.m. voice mail message yesterday, the deputy city manager said the "meeting" would run about $60 per head, which covers mostly the accommodation rental with the balance for the "vegetable dip thing."
But Nesbitt said yesterday the same budget has been attached to the event -- $50,000 -- for five years, no matter how many welfare staff attend. That budget covers the facility, caterer, the event program and anything technical.
Last year 700 people attended but they're looking at closer to 550 staff tonight. She said no politicians are invited -- it has always been a "private, internal staff" function.
Asked why not hold the event at a city-funded facility, Corke insisted there are very few places in the city that can accommodate 600 people. Nesbitt contended a public Request for Quotations (RFQ) was issued in the summer to find a venue and no one bid this year but Roy Thomson Hall.
I'm not convinced city-funded facilities would have even known about the RFQ. There are many possibilities: the National Trade Centre or the Liberty Grand at Exhibition Place, the Zoo, the Hummingbird Centre, the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and the Toronto Centre for the Arts.
Nevertheless, Nesbitt defended the $50,000 as "not very much" to spend to get staff together when one considers the cost per person. (It works out to $91 per person this year.)
She said this is a good opportunity for staff to listen to a general manager who "can't get to all 14 locations on a consistent basis" and maintained the "recognition program" is no different than that conducted by the firefighters or the city's children's services staff.
$15M IN OVERPAYMENTS
Corke reminded me that the welfare staff are also being asked to work tonight and they're not even being fed dinner.
Bear in mind, however, this is the same welfare department that came under fire by the auditor general two weeks ago for failing to collect nearly $15 million in overpayments last year. According to the AG's report, those responsible for recovering the funds ended up costing taxpayers $777,000 more than they collected!
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty's John Clarke was caught completely by surprise.
"To put out a large amount of money on an exercise in self-congratulation is offensive and unnecessary," he said of the shindig. "My proposal would be to give poor people the $50,000 and save themselves the expense and the bother."
Councillor Doug Holyday said 600 people could be hosted in "any number of (city-operated) arenas.
"I can't imagine circumstances that would even warrant them throwing a party at Roy Thomson Hall."
Councillor Karen Stintz also knew nothing about the event."I find it reprehensible that the city would spend $50,000 to have a party for the welfare department at a time when we're looking into non-collection of $15 million (in welfare overpayments)."
This is possibly one of their clients waiting to cheer them on.......
By SUE-ANN LEVY
Some 550 Toronto welfare workers are expected to "mix and mingle" with their colleagues at a $50,000 shindig slated for tonight at Roy Thomson Hall, the Sun has learned.
And this is the fifth year such a shmoozefest -- called the "Living the Vision" forum -- has been approved by senior city staff and held at the same swanky locale, seemingly without most of council's knowledge.
The doors open at 5 p.m. and the festivities are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with the formal planning and recognition part of the program. The rest of the event -- from 7 to 9 p.m. -- has been set aside for a "Mix and Mingle."
The city's general manager of social services, Heather MacVicar, didn't return several phone calls from the Sun and brushed aside all questions at a budget committee meeting yesterday, citing a "family emergency."
But Brenda Nesbitt, director of social services, told me during the first hour or so they sit people down in the theatre while MacVicar and deputy city manager Sue Corke talk about "accomplishments" for the past year and priorities for 2006.
AWARDS
After that, front-line staff from each of the 14 offices -- either one staff member or a team -- get recognition awards for their "client service," a community piece of work or something innovative they've done, based on recommendations from their peers.
During the last two hours attendees will be served hors d'oeuvres prepared by award-winning caterer Daniel et Daniel and can take advantage of a cash bar, if they wish. Any leftover food goes to Second Harvest, she said.
When originally reached on Monday, Nesbitt referred me to Corke for cost details. In a 7:30 a.m. voice mail message yesterday, the deputy city manager said the "meeting" would run about $60 per head, which covers mostly the accommodation rental with the balance for the "vegetable dip thing."
But Nesbitt said yesterday the same budget has been attached to the event -- $50,000 -- for five years, no matter how many welfare staff attend. That budget covers the facility, caterer, the event program and anything technical.
Last year 700 people attended but they're looking at closer to 550 staff tonight. She said no politicians are invited -- it has always been a "private, internal staff" function.
Asked why not hold the event at a city-funded facility, Corke insisted there are very few places in the city that can accommodate 600 people. Nesbitt contended a public Request for Quotations (RFQ) was issued in the summer to find a venue and no one bid this year but Roy Thomson Hall.
I'm not convinced city-funded facilities would have even known about the RFQ. There are many possibilities: the National Trade Centre or the Liberty Grand at Exhibition Place, the Zoo, the Hummingbird Centre, the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and the Toronto Centre for the Arts.
Nevertheless, Nesbitt defended the $50,000 as "not very much" to spend to get staff together when one considers the cost per person. (It works out to $91 per person this year.)
She said this is a good opportunity for staff to listen to a general manager who "can't get to all 14 locations on a consistent basis" and maintained the "recognition program" is no different than that conducted by the firefighters or the city's children's services staff.
$15M IN OVERPAYMENTS
Corke reminded me that the welfare staff are also being asked to work tonight and they're not even being fed dinner.
Bear in mind, however, this is the same welfare department that came under fire by the auditor general two weeks ago for failing to collect nearly $15 million in overpayments last year. According to the AG's report, those responsible for recovering the funds ended up costing taxpayers $777,000 more than they collected!
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty's John Clarke was caught completely by surprise.
"To put out a large amount of money on an exercise in self-congratulation is offensive and unnecessary," he said of the shindig. "My proposal would be to give poor people the $50,000 and save themselves the expense and the bother."
Councillor Doug Holyday said 600 people could be hosted in "any number of (city-operated) arenas.
"I can't imagine circumstances that would even warrant them throwing a party at Roy Thomson Hall."
Councillor Karen Stintz also knew nothing about the event."I find it reprehensible that the city would spend $50,000 to have a party for the welfare department at a time when we're looking into non-collection of $15 million (in welfare overpayments)."
This is possibly one of their clients waiting to cheer them on.......