Ward 1 city councilor and potential mayoral candidate Fred Francis has decided against participating in an external review of council procedures due to concerns about the involvement of Mayor Drew Dilkens’ former chief of staff. The $24,000 contract with GT & Co was awarded by city staff to address various issues raised by the council, such as the possibility of deferring items in the presence of delegates, timelines for filing reports, and setting time limits for councilors’ speeches.
While all councilors were invited to partake in the review, Francis opted out citing the leadership of Andrew Teliszewsky, who previously served as Dilkens’ chief of staff. Francis expressed reservations about discussing improvements for city council and hall with someone associated with the mayor’s office, especially since he is running for mayor himself. He suggested that it would be more beneficial for staff to hear from newly elected councilors following the upcoming election.
The review was initiated by the city’s chief administrative officer, Ray Mensour, who highlighted the significant workload within the Council Services department as a reason for the sole-source contract selection of GT & Co. Mensour emphasized the firm’s experience working with municipalities and its potential to provide fresh insights for the review and recommendations intended for the next council term.
Teliszewsky, identified as a partner at GT & Co, refrained from commenting on Francis’ decision or the contract details, redirecting inquiries to the City of Windsor. Mayor Dilkens clarified that he was not involved in the firm selection process and defended the decision, emphasizing Teliszewsky’s understanding of the city’s operations from his prior tenure.
In contrast, councilors Fathers, Sleiman, and Marignani confirmed their participation in the review, with Sleiman remarking that the discussion around GT & Co’s involvement should be reserved for the next council term upon receiving the report. Francis expressed discomfort with sharing potential campaign information during the review, raising concerns about bias given Teliszewsky’s past connections to the mayor’s office.
Marignani acknowledged Francis’ concerns but indicated confidence in the review process following discussions with Teliszewsky. Dilkens noted that Francis and one other councilor had yet to commit to the review, suggesting that the latter was delayed in responding. He anticipated Francis to continue raising similar issues in the media leading up to the election.
Francis clarified that his decision was not a reflection on anyone’s integrity but rather a matter of comfort in sharing ideas for improving city hall with someone having prior affiliations with the mayor’s office. He expressed hesitancy in providing such information to an individual linked to the mayor’s office, highlighting the impending publication of his platform ideas.