Moncton councillors peppered city staff with many questions surrounding a school crossing guards contract at Monday’s meeting.
Temporary replacement crossing guards will be in place at 25 school sites throughout the municipality on Tuesday following a rather tense discussion in the council chamber.
The City issued a 30-day notice to terminate an agreement with Neptune Security on Friday (December 4).
The City maintains the current provider decided not to offer the service over the 30-day notice period.
City staff said they were made aware of the situation early Monday afternoon.
A city report to council stated former provider Neptune Security “failed to deliver a satisfactory level of service” despite city efforts to work with the firm.
Councillor Bryan Butler felt the city should have had a plan-B in the event something like this could happen.
“I know from the years of myself in planning a number of events, you always looked at the worst case scenario and planned from there out… and hoped for the best but you had to be ready for the worst.”
Other councillors also voiced their frustrations with city staff including Charles Leger who noted how the safety of children should be their utmost concern and a solution was needed immediately.
Councillor Paul Pellerin asked city solicitor Nick Robichaud how the company could effectively break a contract but he said contract matters can’t be discussed in public.
“I’d like to have a discussion in private… because when the City of Moncton makes contracts with individuals… if we let this one go that means everyone else is going to have a free ride,” Pellerin said.
City council unanimously approved terminating the contract with Neptune Security and awarded a new contract to the second-lowest bidder Walker’s Security.
Meantime, senior city managers were tasked with quickly coming up with a plan since the new contract doesn’t officially take effect until January 4, 2021.
Shortly after the city council meeting, city spokesperson Isabelle LeBlanc confirmed there would be no service interruption at any school crosswalks (where a guard delivered the service).
LeBlanc stated a temporary service, composed of commissionaires, security firm employees and by-law officers would ensure safe crosswalk access to school children until the new provider is ready to begin its contract.
She added it is expected that this will be done quickly.
LeBlanc also noted the City contacted both the Anglophone East School District and le District scolaire francophone Sud who notified their school principals and their parents.
