Chatham-Kent (CK) council has approved issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to hire a consultant to develop a response to the municipality's encampment and transitional cabins project.
Councillor Michael Bondy put forward the motion during Monday night's meeting.
His original motion, if moved, would have retained OrgCode Consulting for $51,252.03. However, he amended his motion to ask administration to prepare an RFP with a maximum budget of $55,000 to follow the proper purchasing process.
"I see basically neutral eyeballs coming in here and taking a look at this because this issue, this crisis that we have, frankly, I don't think we know what we're doing," said Bondy.
Councillors Anthony Ceccacci, Aaron Hall, and Brock McGregor noted that CK has in-house homelessness experts and that a consultation may not be worthwhile.
"I think it's important to recognize that we've had a lot of really challenging work that's been done and some innovative work as well, I mean, it's a little bit funny to read some posts from Windsor Councillors praising some of the innovation in Chatham-Kent and looking at us as an example," McGregor added.
The motion passed 10 to five, with Mayor Darrin Canniff and Councillors Hall, McGregor, Carmen McGregor, and Melissa Harrigan opposed.
Bondy's motion did not specify what reserve the money would be sourced from, but rather that the RFP return to council with recommended funding sources.
