By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Essex Council approved up to $1320 from the Wage Stabilization Reserve to hire two summer students from Community Living Essex County’s (CLEC) Youth in Action Program, doubling the Town staff recommendation of hiring one individual.
This will be for four-hours a week over an eight-week period.
Youth member Cole Foster noted the Youth Council Reps are willing to host a fundraiser to generate some funds to support these positions.This is the third time in the past four months this issue came before Council.
According to Essex Free Press files, representatives of CLEC– a local organization providing supports to over 700 individuals of all ages with intellectual disabilities and their families – asked the Town of Essex to explore hiring opportunities through its employment programs back in March.
Essex’s administration was directed to develop a plan on how the municipality could fulfill CLEC’s request by reporting back with recommendations.
The matter returned to Council on May 20, where Administration for the Town of Essex was directed to provide a report on how the municipality could incorporate employment positions through CLEC employment programs. That report was to look into hiring at least one individual through the Youth in Action position for this summer, using the 2025 Council Contingency dollars, and outline a job description and cost.
That report was tabled Monday.
CLEC has two employment programs. Career Compass is its modernized employment service program, providing direction to its job-seeking clients in search for meaningful employment and guiding employers in inclusive hiring. The Youth in Action: Summer Work Experience program provides students who have an intellectual disability the opportunity to find meaningful part-time employment opportunities in their communities, and demonstrate community leadership in inclusive hiring practices.
During Monday evening’s meeting, Brandi Sieben, Essex’s Manager of Human Resources, said she met with Town administration to review how Essex could best support the Youth in Action program.
She noted this program requires a minimum commitment of employing a CLEC supported individual for a minimum of four-hours per week over a six-week period.
After that staff meeting, they recommended hiring an individual for the four-hours per week for an eight-week period. Ideally, they would like to split this employee between two departments. The first four-weeks would be with the Community Services department, carrying out various tasks. The second half would be spent at the Essex Municipal Building, carrying out duties like helping to stuff envelopes and photocopying documents.
This will help administration learn what students will be capable of, so when looking at next year’s budget, they can look at how to best utilize this program.
Sieben recommended the estimated cost of $660 should come from the Council Contingency Fund, an option Council voiced previously, as the 2025 Budget has already been passed. Previously, Mayor Sherry Bondy noted the Council Contingency Fund has not been earmarked for anything else yet this year. There is $15,000 in this fund that Council can use to fund unexpected matters throughout the budget year.
At the previous meeting, staff was asked to look into how other municipalities have been able to implement either of CLEC’s programs. Sieben reached out to those other municipalities to inquire about that and what kind of letters of agreement there are in working with unions.
After speaking to other municipalities, Sieben noted none have hired through CLEC’s programs fulltime, or have a CLEC supported individuals working in union positions.
She added there are municipalities that do employ them on a permanent, part-time basis. These are not unionized positions.
The best plan moving forward would be to look at casual positions in the Community Services Department and as crossing guards. This would allow for the hiring of adults, not just through the Youth in Action program.
Bondy read a comment Tammy Dalgleish, Employment Specialist for CLEC, provided on the option of splitting the Youth in Action hire between two municipal departments.
Dalgleish wrote the job descriptions require different interests and skillsets.
Bondy noted it seemed going from Community Services to Legal and Corporate Services is a bit of a swing in different skillsets.
Councillor Kim Verbeek asked if the Town would have the ability to hire two students for the eight-week duration, one in each department. Financially, Verbeek noted there is plenty of money in the Council Contingency Fund to do so. She wondered if the Town could facilitate two.
She spoke of the value the program has for those it employs.
Sieben noted she would have to ask the managers if there would be sustainable work for the eight-week duration.
Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley appreciated the report, and was supportive of it or Verbeek’s idea.
In answering Councillor Joe Garon’s question on possible alternative ways to pay for it, CAO Kate Giurissevich said the Wage Stabilization Reserve could be considered. Garon believes the wages should come out of the Wage Stabilization Reserve.
Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais believed splitting the hire between the two departments would broaden their horizons and would be great to experience two different skillsets. She would like to see this position grow to two or three students in the future.
Councillor Jason Matyi liked Verbeek’s idea to hire two through the program.
Councillor Rodney Hammond was more in favour of administration’s recommendation.
After the Youth Council members announced their intention to help fundraise, Verbeek said they rock and have hearts of gold.
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