Gobsmacked. Shocked and stunned. Perplexed. I am all of those things over a London city council committee vote yesterday that approved hiring a Toronto firm to build the new city of London website.
This job wasn’t tendered. London website developers, and there are many, didn’t get the opportunity to submit their credentials and even be considered for the $350,000 contract. Our Mayor, Joe Fontana, chairs the Finance and Adminstrative Services Committee which has made this recommendation based on a report prepared by the head of technology for London. Fontana is constantly talking about investment in our city’s companies. He goes on at every opportunity about creating jobs and a strong economy. Let me share a paragraph from his own website:
London is a city OPEN for business. We welcome entrepreneurs and investors because we see the potential and value in those who see London as a place of opportunity and advancement. London offers companies a strong and skilled workforce and this resource is directly connected to the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College, as well as local labour associations and training programs.
Our workforce makes London the BEST city.
And yet with his own vote, and the votes of Councillors Baechler, Branscombe, Brown and Hubert, he has decided to bypass his own constituents and send this sweet deal out of market. No questions, no consultation, not a whisper of a chance for London companies. Had the contract been tendered and the result been the same, that would be one thing. But there was no fairness in this process.
As I sit here with a bit of a seethe on one of my radio competitors is painting a rosy picture of the vote because the price of the website build is comparatively less than that of other municipalities. Um, honey, the point is over here while you’re looking over there. The deal still needs full council approval and – I can’t believe I’m saying this – but ol’ Stephen “backyard chickens” Orser can probably be expected to lead the opposition and I only hope he can sway his colleagues to his side. The ones who voted on Monday can’t seem to see the Forest City for the trees.
Given the recent Supreme Court decision, the obligations under the Ontario Disability Act and Accessible Customer Service Standard which came into full effect as of January 2012 I highly doubt that whoever is selected has the competencies or credentials to design and build a user friendly and accessible web site avoiding numerous complaints under the Human Rights or ODA despite what they may claim. In fact, it’s highly unlikely that any consideration as to the municipalities legal obligations for ensuring an accessible web site was given any consideration when determining the company being selected.