Mayor Finally Decides To Meet With The People Elected To Run City

Mayor agrees to meeting

By BRYN WEESE, SUN MEDIA

Critics of Mayor David Miller scored a victory yesterday when he agreed to their call for a meeting of the city's employee and labour relations committee.

Some councillors and members of the committee had accused Miller of keeping them "in the dark" about contract negotiations that have plunged the city into what is now a 17-day municipal strike.

Yesterday, some of them penned a letter to the mayor demanding the committee, and councillors, be updated on the talks during a special meeting.

"It doesn't appear we're any further ahead with the negotiations between the city and the unions, regardless of what the mayor claims," said Councillor Case Ootes, a spokesman for the 11-member Responsible Government Group of councillors.

"We are members of the committee, and it's appropriate for us to be updated on the ongoing negotiations," said Councillor Frances Nunziata. "To this day, we do not know what the outstanding issues are. We are kept in the dark."

As the group was making its letter public, a spokesman for the mayor said Miller decided to hold the meeting. It will take place in City Hall at 3 p.m. today.

Miller said the meeting will be a "formal" update on talks -- not an opportunity for councillors to drastically change the city's bargaining position. "They (the bargaining team) have a very clear mandate, a mandate that I'm happy with," Miller said.

Councillors are hoping Miller will convene a special meeting of council to deal with "routine" city business delayed because of the strike.