Brian Guest is back at Ottawa's rail office where his brother-in-law's the boss

At a special presentation at City Hall Fridaymorning, we'll getour firstdetailed look at plans for the$3-billion light rail expansion,the most expensive infrastructure project in Ottawa's history.

But the briefing isn'tlikely to include details aboutwho exactly is planning Phase 2 of the LRT project.

It's not easy to count heads in the light rail office. There are about a dozen city managers on the file, but also a slew of hired gunsfrom variousengineering, financial and legal firms.

One of the consultants is Brian Guest, a principal at BoxfishInfrastructure Group.

That Guest is working on the rail project is likely no surprise to City Hall watchers: Guest and his firm specialize in planning transportation and transit projects, especially ones that involve public-private partnerships like Ottawa's.

Guest worked on the initial stages of the Confederation Line. As a city spokesman once put it, "Boxfish is a vital and integral part of the light rail implementation team."

Guest officially left Ottawa's rail office in 2013. Then last yearhis firm was awarded a new contract worth up to $2 million to consult on light rail.

There's been one significant changesince the last time Guest worked in the light rail office: his brother-in-law is now in charge.

Family ties

Chris Swail, director of O-Train planning, used to besecond-in-command informer deputy city manager NancySchepers's office. Around the time Schepersretired from her senior role atthe city in 2015,Swailwas put in charge of managing the plan for Phase 2.

I totally get how it could be perceived as a conflict.- John Manconi, GM of transportation services

Swail ismarried to Robyn Guest, who used to work in former city manager KentKirkpatick'soffice. In the city re-organization last year, she was moved to the protocol office, but was later transferred to Mayor Jim Watson's office, where she is a policy director.

That makesSwailthe brother-in-law of Brian Guest, as well as the manager overseeing Phase 2 of LRT.

Lucrative contracts

In 2015Boxfishwas subcontracted by Deloitte to write an 18-page "lessons learned" report on the planning and procurement for the first phase of LRT.

According to city officials, Boxfish was paid $265,000 for the work, which included interviewing 19 stakeholders in the project, as well as federal andprovincial officials, and coming up with recommendations on how to better plan Phase 2.

And last October, Boxfish wona competitivelytendered contract for awide range ofconsulting servicesworth up to $2 million. The tasks areshelled out in phases, and so farthe city has approved $700,000 worth of work for Boxfish.

In an emailGuest said he doesn't generally speak publicly about the work his firm does for its clients. But he did say he's "proud both of the team and value we offer. Our group has some of the most experienced people in the world at delivering LRT projects under an [alternate financing and procurement] model."

RecentlySchepers who was in charge of the rail office for a while, and was kept on as a special adviser for several months after she retired in 2015 has appeared on the Boxfishwebsite as a consultant. But city officials have said she is not working on the LRT project.

No conflict, GM says

According to John Manconi, the city's general manager of transportation services, the fact that Guest is a consultant in the office managed by his brother-in-law does not represent a conflict of interest.

Swail was not part of the selection team that scored the Boxfish bid for the work, nor does Swaildecide whether Boxfish is awarded the next phase of work, said Manconi.

Nevertheless, Manconisaid, "I totally get how it could be perceived as a conflict."

So much sothat city solicitor and clerk Rick O'Connor was brought into make sure the arrangement was not breaching any conflict of interest rules.

Manconi confirmed that Swail is "working actively with Brian." Swailis often at the same table with Guest and, on occasion, with Robyn Guest as wellin meetings.

Manconi emphasized thatwhile he understands the possibility for a perceived conflict of interest,"I absolutely think he's the right person to be on this file."