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How Malcolm White used his new spending powers in 2023

Two years ago, the CAO was delegated authority to approve spending greater than $125K in certain instances. Here are the 26 contracts he signed without asking council’s permission
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Monday’s city council meeting will be the last for retiring chief administrative officer Malcolm White.

Under normal circumstances, Malcolm White, the city's chief administrative officer, must have city council permission for all expenditures greater than $125,000.

But in 2021, White was granted delegated authority to spend more than that when agreements require an executed copy be provided in such a short time frame that it would otherwise prevent the deal from being brought before council for approval.

Monday night's city council meeting will be White's last.

He's retiring and will be replaced by deputy CAO Tom Vair.

On Monday, White will present council with the following list of agreements he signed in 2023 under delegated authority:

  • Ecolab Dishwasher Rental Agreement (John Rhodes). Monthly rental agreement for dishwasher at the Icebreakers Restaurant located in the John Rhodes Community Centre (Ecolab Co.) $175.17/monthly
  • HostedBiz Incorporated (housing backups in cloud). To house city's backups in the cloud as part of cyber-security resilience plan (HostedBizz Incorporated) $1,033.50/monthly
  • Listen Package Cityzen Solutions Inc. doing business as Public Input. Public input software agreement (Cityzen Solutions Inc.) $10,315 USD
  • Bids and Tenders eProcurement Digital Solution. Bids and tenders software agreement (GHD Digital) $12,140
  • UMO Cubic Data Licence (Transit farebox system (Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc.) Third party agreement with GTFS. Financial component approved by Council Bylaw 2022-144
  • Biennial Aqueduct Inspections. Professional engineering consulting services for Biennial Aqueduct Inspections – field inspection of 14 lengths of aqueduct along four major drainage systems (Tulloch Engineering). Upset limit of $59,065.50
  • CIMA Professional Traffic Engineering Advisory Services. Professional traffic engineering advisory services agreement (CIMA Canada Inc.) $30,000/ annually. Duration of services two years with a possible extension for one additional year. Approval total $90,000
  • East End Water Treatment Plant Biofilter Performance Test. Performance test. (AECOM Canada Ltd.) Upset limit of $46,650
  • East End Wastewater Treatment Plant Settlement Amendment. Settlement amendment (Tulloch Engineering) $35,831
  • Post-Election Evaluation Agreement. Research and access agreement as a follow-up to 2022 municipal election (Brock University). No financial impact
  • Physician Recruitment. Physician recruitment and retention activities (Group Health Association, Sault Area Hospital, Algoma West Academy of Medicine) $90,000
  • James L. McIntyre Centennial Library Asbestos Agreement (Engineering). Engineering services related to the abatement of asbestos containing troweled-on acoustic finish at the James L. McIntyre Centennial Library (Tulloch Engineering Inc.) $33,350
  • Comprehensive Risk Assessment and Fire Master Plan. Agreement to update comprehensive community risk assessment and fire master plan. (Tayport Limited, a subsidiary of Dillon) $109,950 plus HST (asset management reserve)
  • Waste Water Master Plan Part B – Flow Metering Addendum No 2. Fee addendum, Project B-22-02 (AECOM Canada Inc.) $41,013
  • Fort Creek Multismart Control – Emergency Panel Procurement Scope Change 3 Scope authorization – sewage infrastructure electrical upgrades (AECOM Canada) Change $7,500
  • Armoured Transportation Services – Brinks Canada Ltd. Armoured transportation service agreement (Brinks Canada Ltd.) Charges on a per-call basis
  • License to Occupy City Property for Artillery Training. Licence to occupy various locations (His Majesty the King in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of National Defence). No financial impact
  • Heritage Property Agreement – 119 Woodward. Filed, but this agreement did not need to go through eScribe workflow. Form of agreement approved by Bylaw 2017-18 (Kari Hanninen, owner). No financial impact
  • Millennium Court Stormwater Quality Management Design, contract administration and field inspection for Millennium Court stormwater management. Two agreements: stormwater quality management and rear yard and stormwater channel improvements (Tulloch Engineering Inc.) Upset limit of $56,380
  • Older Adults Centres' Association – Silver Paddle Society. Nature-based programs to enhance the quality of life of older adults. (Older Adult Centres' Association of Ontario) $1,000 grant to city
  • Professional Architect Services – Exterior Cladding Replacement Library Main Branch. Exterior cladding replacement James L. McIntyre Centennial Library – architecture fees (MGP Architects and Engineer Inc.) $25,000
  • ATS Alarm Monitoring Agreement. Alarm monitoring agreement with ATS for three years – Downtown Plaza (Algoma Technology Services). $24.95/monthly for 3 years plus call-outs
  • EDC TCD Copier Lease (Xerox). Lease with Xerox for copier shared between EDC and Tourism and Community Development (Superior Digital Solutions Inc.) $313.85/quarterly
  • Transit on Demand Renewal Call Centre Support. Southland Transportation Ltd. $33.08/hourly
  • Licence of Occupation Remembrance Day Ceremony (Boardwalk). Ceremonial gun salute – His Majesty the King in Right of Canada. No financial impact
  • Fee Addendum Waste Water Operations Advisory Services. AECOM Change $14,900


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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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