Looking for HR answers
Coun. Bob Doiron growing frustrated at the lack of meetings and information
A Charlottetown councillor who sits on the human resources committee is demanding answers from that committee.
Bob Doiron, a member-atlarge on the committee, said he’s very frustrated that committee meetings keep getting cancelled when he’s trying to find out more information about the hiring process in various departments.
“How is it that so many people get hired through the public works department and (urban) beautification and we don’t have a human resources person involved in this? Who does the hiring?’’ Doiron said following the regular public monthly meeting of council Monday where he brought the subject up.
Doiron said the committee has only met once since August. Standing committees normally hold meetings once per month. The manager of human resources with the city left the job a few months ago, but Coun. Terry MacLeod, chairman of the human resources committee, said the city has been using a human resources consultant. The manager’s job has not been posted yet. “Unfortunately, when you have a changeover with staff, especially your HR (manager), there is a tendency for things to slow down a little bit,’’ MacLeod said. “I have every confidence what is happening behind the scenes. Staff have been keeping council up to date … and we have an active HR consultant and she’s doing the job very well.’’ Doiron said there needs to be a professional HR person in place to screen all job applicants.
“We don’t have a human resource person there who is professionally trained to screen people out,’’ Doiron said. “That opens the door to possible political involvement, which is wrong.’’
Doiron said with hirings that include a new deputy chief administrative officer and new finance manager it only makes sense to have a committee meeting to discuss pertinent issues.
“But, continuously these meetings are cancelled,’’ he said.
MacLeod said the committee did meet in November, but with the loss of the HR manager and the holidays things have been in flux lately.
Doiron isn’t buying it. “That’s hogwash. We have a person,’’ Doiron said. “The first week after the human resources manager left we had someone in place (who is) very knowledgeable in the department — willing to work, willing to meet.’’
During the council meeting, MacLeod told Doiron he is at these meetings and if he has any questions or suggestions he should be making them. Doiron responded by saying he’s told he’s not allowed to speak up at those meetings.
“You have to (be able) to discuss the business of the city. We have good people in place,’’ Doiron said.
“They’re doing a good job and they work so hard, so let’s get a meeting, make some decisions, get a hiring thing in place.’’