Ward 1 city councilor and potential mayoral candidate Fred Francis has opted out of participating in an external review of council procedures because it is overseen by Mayor Drew Dilkens’ former chief of staff. The city awarded a $24,000 sole-source contract to GT & Co to address various concerns raised by the city council, such as the possibility of deferring items when delegates are present, timeframes for staff to submit reports, and whether time limits should be imposed on councilors’ remarks.
While all councilors were invited to partake in the review, Francis declined due to his reservations about Andrew Teliszewsky, who served as Dilkens’ chief of staff between 2020 and 2023, leading the process. Francis expressed that, as a mayoral candidate, he found it inappropriate to discuss ideas for enhancing city council and city hall with someone closely associated with the mayor.
The contract for the review was initiated by city chief administrative officer Ray Mensour, who explained that the decision to sole-source GT & Co was due to the heavy workload in the Council Services department, particularly in preparation for the upcoming city-wide election. Mensour praised GT & Co’s expertise in working with municipalities, highlighting their ability to provide fresh perspectives and timely recommendations for the next council term.
Teliszewsky, identified as a partner at GT & Co, declined to comment on Francis’ stance or the contract specifics, directing inquiries to the City of Windsor. Mayor Dilkens, who has not confirmed his re-election bid, emphasized that the firm selection and contract award followed proper city procedures and defended Teliszewsky’s past experience as beneficial to the review.
While Councilors Fathers, Sleiman, and Marignani confirmed their participation in the review, Francis raised concerns about potential bias and confidentiality issues given Teliszewsky’s ties to the mayor’s office. Marignani noted that after seeking clarification from Teliszewsky, he was reassured that the process was routine quality control.
Dilkens mentioned that Francis and another unnamed councilor had not committed to the review, with the expectation that the other councilor would join soon. Francis expressed discomfort in sharing campaign details with consultants linked to the mayor’s office, emphasizing the importance of maintaining confidentiality until his platform is officially disclosed.