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TORONTO -- Toronto City Council's finance committee on Monday was approached about waiving the requirement for the Civil Service exam for certain school positions.
Maureen Taggart, superintendent of Toronto City Schools, said the exam is a deterrent for some applicants at a time when the school district is having some difficulty filling service personnel jobs.
She noted it costs the school district about $200 for each exam when there often are only a handful of applicants and she believes failure or passage of the test doesn't necessarily indicate a person's aptitude for the often-physical work they will do if selected.
Taggart said because all prospective school employees must undergo a criminal background check, the test is "another hoop" for them to pass in securing a job.
Craig Allen, the city's law director, said he believes under statute, the city and school district must utilize the Civil Service Commission when considering applicants for certain non-specialized positions.
Mayor John Parker said, following the meeting, the exam is intended "to create a level playing field" for all applicants, with those who pass at least having the opportunity to be interviewed.
But he agreed to seek the opinion of private legal counsel and share it with Taggart.
At the City Council meeting that followed, Parker raised some concern about council's use of the internet to stream and post video of their meetings.
Earlier this year the pandemic spurred the panel to use the Zoom videoconferencing application to conduct its meetings and ensure social distancing. While some council members and city officials sat apart in council chambers, several others participated from home using computers or smartphones.
Following the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, council returned to that practice.
Councilman at large Steven Rebich volunteered to set up the app and stream it live or post a recording of it on a Facebook page he created earlier.
Rebich said after learning the city's fire department had a page, he started one for the city to convey boil orders and other announcements.
But Parker said others besides Rebich should have access to the page.
Councilman at large Ron Holmes had earlier suggested a public relations committee comprised of Rebich and others that would handle the release of information.
Parker said videos of the meetings could be construed as a public record that must be furnished upon request. He said in that case, the city should have a means for archiving them.
The mayor said federal C.A.R.E.S. Act funds, issued for expenses related to the pandemic, can be used for any needed equipment.
The discussion ended with Rebich agreeing to work with Martin Thompson, a technology specialist who has worked with the city in the past, to address such issues.
In other business:
¯ Council approved 3 percent raises for the city's building maintenance technician, staff in the mayor's and city auditor's offices, three dispatchers and a court clerk. Retroactive to Jan. 1 of this year, the raises reflect 3 percent raises approved for the city's police, firefighters and their chiefs earlier this year.
¯ First Ward Councilman Bob Bertram noted padding around poles for the hoops at the city's basketball court were slashed recently and suggested video cameras be posted there.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)