While some on city council may believe having Commissionaires at city hall’s front doors is unnecessary, city administration says the uniformed members keep city staff safe from verbal and physical abuse.
As part of a discussion during the final 2023 budget meeting about what items could be cut, Coun. Dawn Luhning asked how much it costs to have a Commissionaire at the front doors.
In response, finance director Brian Acker said the daytime officer costs $37,830, while that increases to $42,830 — an extra $5,000 — to have someone in the evening for council meetings.
City manager Jim Puffalt defended the need for Commissionaires, saying city hall staff feel safer working when a uniformed person is present. It’s not just councillors who received criticism from residents about service cuts or tax hikes; municipal employees do too.
“There’s been a marked difference toward our staff by having security at the front gate … . In the olden days, people could wander all over the building (and) they (could) come in the back door,” he said. “And we’ve made some good security arrangements for our facility. You have over 100 people who work here. And people can be rude to us. And that’s a fact of life.
Puffalt added that security guards have “made a world of difference” in staff morale and safety.
Before this position was added, somebody would regularly yell and scream at customer service personnel — especially about water, taxes or property confiscation — which Acker said he would hear in his office. However, people’s attitudes have changed with a uniformed officer present.
“We have a much more respectful behaviour from people,” he continued, agreeing that the officers have made a big difference in building security. “It’s a cost, certainly, but it’s a cost that’s well worth it to have a safe and respectful workplace for staff.”
The city needs to use better the Commissionaires, which means moving the desk from the front door — put there because of pandemic restrictions — into reception so the officer can control where people go in the building, Acker said. Those officers can continue to deter disturbances, while they will know how to handle incidents once the building adopts new safety protocols.
“I could never recommend getting rid of that service because it’s our duty to have a safe and respectful workplace for our staff,” he added.
Coun. Heather Eby sometimes wonders why the Commissionaires are needed when she enters city hall. However, she reminds herself of the problems the public library faces with aggressive people, noting she never takes her granddaughters to the bathrooms there when a Commissionaire is absent.
“I feel strongly that if we do not have a strong presence at the entryway, that there could be a similar situation happening there (city hall) because things downtown have changed,” she said.
“And I have to check my own attitude sometimes … but I agree with the safety for the staff and building. But even further, I think we would have even bigger problems without that person there.”
Coun. Doug Blanc wondered if the Commissionaires even ask people where they’re going in the building because they never ask him and he walks past. He also agreed with moving the desk into reception.
It’s possible for the public to move past that officer without hindrance, agreed Acker. The officers are supposed to stop people and ask where they’re going; currently, someone could say they are going to the cashier and instead walk upstairs.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Jan. 9.
