Greater Sudbury complaints service could protect whistleblowers
Pitch for an outside body to manage the issues people have with the city gets council's unanimous support
The city of Greater Sudbury is trying to develop a new way of handling complaints.
At a meeting Tuesday night, councillors voted in favour of bringing in an external service provider to manage issues people have with the city.
The provider would monitor a telephone line and an email account, and is expected to cost around $20,000. But, the pitch has to be approved by the finance committee before it can go ahead.
The new complaints system would also give whistleblowers more protection through anonymity. If approved, the service will be be hired for a one- to two-year trial.
Mayor Brian Bigger encouraged councillors to support the proposal.
"We want to make sure that people feel comfortable if they do have valid complaints and concerns — that they do bring them forward and there is no reprisal," he said.
Ward 5 Coun. Robert Kirwan also gave the proposal a thumbs-up.
"I'm quite confident, especially because this is what staff is recommending," he said.
"I think staff is saying something to us that they would like this taken outside to start with, instead of having the complaints resolution process internal."