Thunder Bay social services board wants more independence

The Acting CAO for the Thunder Bay District Social Services Board says the board is trying to become more independent to help keep confidential information in-house.

Terminating its master agreement will release thecity from providingservices such as human resources, finance and information technology administration.

"In terms of homemaking itself, it is kind of an outlier, Bill Bradicasaid. Although it's a city program, we were essentially administering it on their behalf. However, it's not part of the DSSAB's mandate."But the board also wants to transfer a home-care program to the city.

Bradica added, as far as he knows, no other social services board operates a homemaking program on behalf of a municipality.

Some issues with homemaking program

A senior city official has said dealing with the board has become a bureaucratic nightmare.

But Bradica noted that, as far as he's concerned, all other changes have gone smoothly besides the homemaking program.

"I don't know why that was stated and I can tell you with the transition of the IT items, HR, Finance that we had excellent co-operation from the relevant city managers between them and the managers here in transitioning that, he said.

For whatever reason there seems to be some perceived issues on others parts about [the homemaking program]. But, I know there was communication with city staff, between DSSAB staff on that item."

The DSSAB also had agreements with Schreiber, Greenstone and Manitouwadge all of which were terminated Jan 1, 2009 and employees were absorbed into theDSSAB.