March 23, 1999
CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE:
The Emergency and Protective Services Committee on March 23, 1999, had before it the following communications:
-(February 11, 1999) from the Chairman, Toronto Police Services Board, advising that the Board on January 28, 1999,
had before it a report (January 6, 1999) from the Chief of Police respecting the feasibility of contracting out custodial and
maintenance services for all Toronto Police facilities; and recommending that the Emergency and Protective Services
Committee:
(1)approve the Toronto Police Services Board's request that the Chief Administrative Officer, City of Toronto, explore
the feasibility of contracting out custodial and maintenance services for all police facilities in the context of short and
long-term cost-savings; and
(2)forward the report to the Chief Administrative Officer for consideration;
-(February 12, 1999) addressed to the Members of the Toronto Police Services Board, from the Chairman of the Board
(to be considered by the Board at its meeting on March 26, 1999) wherein it recommends, in part, that the Chief of Police
direct Toronto Police Service staff to consult with Corporate Services (who reserve the right of final decision) as to
custodial and maintenance services provided by the City to the Toronto Police Service, and to advise the Board of the
outcome;
-(March 16, 1999) from Ms. Anne Dubas, President, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79, urging the
Emergency and Protective Services Committee to reject the request that the Chief Administrative Officer explore the
contracting out of custodial and maintenance services, and instead confirm that these services continue to be provided by
the City's own employees; and
-(March 22, 1999) from Mr. Brian Cochrane, President, Toronto Civic Employees' Union, CUPE, Local 416, in
opposition to the proposal to contract-out custodial and maintenance services.
The Committee referred the aforementioned communications to the Corporate Services Committee, with a request that the
Committee hear deputations from the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79, and the Toronto Civic Employees'
Union, CUPE, Local 416, and further that the Unions be advised when this matter is to be considered by the Corporate
Services Committee.
City Clerk
R. Dyers/lv
Item No. 8
Sent to:Corporate Services Committee
Chief Administrative Officer
Chairman, Toronto Police Services Board
Chief of Police
Ms. Anne Dubas, President, CUPE, Local 79
Mr. Brian Cochrane, President, Toronto Civic Employees' Union, CUPE, Local 416
Executive Director, Human Resources
________
February 11, 1999
TO:Toronto Emergency & Protective Services Committee
FROM:Norman Gardner, Chairman
Toronto Police Services Board
SUBJECT:FEASIBILITY OF CONTRACTING CUSTODIAL &MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR ALL TORONTO
POLICE FACILITIES
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
1.That the Emergency & Protective Services Committee approve the Toronto Police Services Board's request that the
Chief Administrative Officer, City of Toronto, explore the feasibility of contracting out custodial and maintenance services
for all police facilities in the context of short and long term cost savings; and
2.That the Emergency & Protective Services Committee forward this report to the CAO for consideration.
Council Reference/Background History:
At its meeting on January 28, 1999 the Toronto Police Services Board was in receipt of the following report JANUARY 6,
1999 from David J. Boothby, Chief of Police:
"RECOMMENDATION:That the Board request the City's CAO to explore the feasibility of contracting out
custodial and maintenance services for all police facilities in the context of short and long term cost
savings.
BACKGROUND:
At its meeting of February 26, 1998 (BM #57/98 refers) the Board had before it a summary of the study undertaken by
Daniels Associates on behalf of the Service on the issue of custodial and maintenance of Police Service facilities. This
study was conducted after the special '1997 Police Budget Task Force', chaired by Ms. Maureen Prinsloo (then Chair of the
Board) and Mr. Jeff Griffiths (Metro Auditor), requested the Service to continue pursuing this initiative to reduce overall
costs of custodial and maintenance charges. The study provided service standards and evaluated various options available
to reduce costs. Service staff agreed with the consultant's recommendation that the optimal cost savings amounting to
approximately $2.5 million annually could be achieved if the custodial and maintenance services for all police facilities
were contracted out. The Board approved the Service's recommendation to authorize Service staff to enter into discussions
with the City of Toronto regarding the contracting out of custodial and maintenance services and to report back to the
Board on the status of the discussions.
Service representatives and the City's Corporate Services staff met on several occasions to discuss appropriate standards
and estimated market costs for custodial and maintenance services for all police facilities as outlined in the Daniels
Associates Report. The City's Legal and Human Resources departments were also consulted. The City's Facilities
Management staff agree that there is potential for significant cost reductions which will result in the downsizing of the
City's workforce. The City Legal Department staff acknowledges that there are no legal impediments for the Board to have
this service provided by a private organization provided City Council agrees with the issue of contracting out.
It is recommended that the Board request the City's CAO to explore the feasibility of contracting out custodial and
maintenance services for all police facilities in the context of short and long term cost savings.
Mr. Frank Chen, Director, Finance & Administration (local 8-7877), and Mr. Michael Ellis, Manager, Facilities
Management (local 8-7951), will be in attendance to answer any questions the Board may have."
Conclusion:
The Board was also in receipt of the following correspondence:
- January 20, 1999 from Brian Cochrane, President, Toronto Civic Employees Union, Local 416
- January 27, 1999 from Anne Dubas, President, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79
The following persons were in attendance and made deputations to the Board:
- Bill Ross* and Johanna Brand, representing the caretakers, Toronto Civic Employees Union, Local 416
- Anne Dubas, President, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79
* written submission also provided and appended to this Minute.
In his deputation, Mr. Ross indicated that a discrepancy exists with regard to the total number of staff providing custodial
and maintenance services identified in the Daniels Associates report (86 staff members) and the actual current number (64
staff members) performing these services.
Frank Chen, Director of Finance & Administration, and Mike Ellis, Manager, Facilities Management, were also in
attendance and discussed this issue with the Board.
The Board approved the following Motions:
1.THAT the deputations and Mr. Ross' written submission be received;
2.THAT the correspondence from the TCEU Local 416 and CUPE Local 79 be received;
3.THAT the report from the Chief of Police be approved;
4.THAT the issue of contracting custodial and maintenance services for all police facilities be referred to the Policy &
Budget Subcommittee for further consideration;
5.THAT the Chief of Police submit a report to the Policy & Budget Subcommittee on the following:
- actual current staffing levels
- benefits of retaining current staff
- identify any concerns related to security
issues if custodial & maintenance services were
contracted out
cost-saving benefits as well as any new costs that may arise as a result of contracting out; and
Michael Ellis, Manager, Facitilies Management, Toronto Police Service, telephone no. 808-7951.
