Greater Sudbury workers concerned about lack of say on budget-cutting ideas

Today is the deadline for Sudbury residents to submit their cost-cutting ideas to the city.

The public suggestion box was created to help eliminate a $6 million budget shortfall. The city reports more than 500 suggestions have come in.

The president of the union representing most city workers says they're worried, as they won't have input on ideas for cuts to services and jobs

"I have no issue with the direction mayor and council have given to staff, but I think it's been very poorly handled — strictly by the senior management group," said CUPE 4705 president Darryl Taylor.

Economic development officer Ian Wood says staff will provide written responses to the suggestions, which will be made public this fall.        

"We've undertaken to be transparent, and by the end of the process, all of the suggestions will be released, along with a response from the city to those suggestions," he said.

But Taylor said he wouldn't call the process transparent, as only city staff will get to respond to suggestions — not employees.

"The problem is the people who deliver those services have had no say in reviewing those suggestions once they come in. We're completely in the dark."

Taylor said he has some of his own cost-cutting suggestions — including his assertion the city is top-heavy with managers.

City staff should also stop using city vehicles to commute to work, he added.