The city plans to remain flexible to staffing levels during Barrie’s second lockdown, says its chief administrative officer and city manager.
“Our staffing levels have been reduced since the beginning of the pandemic and have never returned to their normal levels,” Michael Prowse told BarrieToday this morning. “Given the provincial-mandated shutdown is four weeks, we have redeployed existing staff where possible or just not scheduled shifts for part-time staff in the hopes that the shutdown will end in late January.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly," he added.
The Ontario lockdown began Boxing Day and will go until Jan. 23 unless extended by the province. It has closed most city facilities to in-person visits, although there are some virtual programs and pre-booked appointments available at Barrie City Hall three days a week, through Service Barrie. The city’s two library branches — downtown and Painswick — are offering only curb-side pickups and returns, and the landfill is open but with reduced capacity.
Barrie Transit, Provincial Offences Act courts and other city services remain the same during the lockdown as they were in the former Red-Control level, again with capacity limits.
Michael Murphy, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2380, which represents more than 500 full-time city employees, told BarrieToday on Monday that he doesn’t anticipate any layoffs for full-time, permanent CUPE members resulting from the provincial lockdown. Murphy said he was unsure how it would affect part-time city employees, as they are not CUPE members.
Last mid-March, within days of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic, the city closed all of its recreation facilities, arenas, theatres and library branches until further notice.
In early April, the city issued temporary layoffs to approximately 470 part-time recreation and theatre staff, until facility operations resumed. With Barrie Transit free, part-time transit clerks were also laid off.
And in mid-April, the city temporarily laid off 55 more workers — 25 temporary positions, five permanent part-time and 25 permanent full-time positions. It was necessary because of the extended cancellation of several non-essential city services and the resulting financial impact, the city said.
The state of emergency Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman declared last March 23 remains in effect. It provides the city with additional powers and resources to protect the health and safety of Barrie residents and streamlines the decision-making process for expediency through the city's emergency control group. This is aligned with the Ontario government’s declaration of emergency, made March 17.
For a complete list of city services available at Service Barrie during the second pandemic lockdown, visit barrie.ca.
The lockdown closes most businesses except those deemed essential, until Jan. 23, 2021. Grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, for example, are allowed to stay open with capacity restrictions. Other stores and restaurants can only offer curb-side pickup and delivery. Capacity restrictions are 25 per cent per room at discount and big box retailers that sell food.
