Summerlanders’ should be thankful their council understands the benefit of experience and reputation in replacing CAO in their city hall.
When their CAO resigned they hired former Penticton CEO Tim Wood to act as interim and lead the search for a permanent replacement. Tim was closely involved in the administrator’s professional association and would have excellent contacts.
As well as having the experience to vet applicants he would be well aware of their reputation in their field; knowledge and their ability to work well with and supervise the city staff under their control. He would provide a strong knowledgeable voice in guiding hiring a replacement.
A few years ago when CAO Len Den Boer resigned, Penticton hired Dennis Back as an interim CAO. Dennis was an excellent choice and those of you that watched the council meetings will understand the valuable asset he was to our community.
Presently council has chosen to have Chuck Loewen, head of recreation, as interim CAO while a replacement is found. While Mr. Loewen is very likeable; I don’t think he has the experience to manage the day-to-day workings of a $100-million operation, nor do I expect that he has the background knowledge and/or expertise to successfully guide our current council to ensure they hire the best person for the job. I also recall Chuck mentioning that he lived out of town; if Chuck is living in Peachland; I question why we are hiring civil servants that choose to live outside of our community. Civil servants should be expected to live in the community they work in.
I would suggest that city council find a professional interim replacement so the hiring of the next CAO can come to a successful conclusion and we do not have any more unnecessary turnovers in this department. Turnovers are expensive; not only in training but in severance packages.
Ms. Antoniak came to us from the RDOS and the provincial government.
I expect her lack of experience in civic matters would have required a lot of specialized courses and training. In addition to her salary; presently in the $170,000 range; these courses and the time for training and travel would all have been paid by the Penticton taxpayer. Now all those funds have been wasted as Ms. Antoniak moves on to greener pastures.
Tax dollars are scarce. We need to expect better than that in our hiring policies.
Elvena Slump
Penticton