A makeover is underway at the Powell River Regional District. Existing staff positions are being re-organized and new positions are being created, paving the way for a new chief administrative officer (CAO). As previously reported in the Peak, Mac Fraser has been hired for the top bureaucratic job and starts April 1.
Administrator Frances Ladret, who is retiring at the end of April, explained that directors identified a staffing plan as one of the priorities in the 2010 strategic plan. “One of the main objectives in having a staffing plan was to ensure adequate staff support for the new CAO,” she said. “Directors have generally endorsed an overall plan and its implementation is in progress. However, all arrangements have not been finally decided.”
Four current employees are receiving promotions: Linda Greenan, manager of financial services, has been appointed chief financial officer; Brenda Paquin will move from secretary to executive assistant; Nancy Schmeister, planning assistant, will be designated communications coordinator; and Shawn Gullette moves from cemetery caretaker and part-time projects manager to parks and properties foreman.
Additionally, three new positions have been created: manager of community services, a modification of the previous manager of infrastructure and community services position; planner, to assume responsibility for most of the current planning work; and receptionist/clerk, to assume “front desk” responsibilities presently handled by the secretary and to provide general clerical support in the office.
The 2010 financial plan included an allocation for the manager of community services’ salary as well as allocations for new positions in planning and administration for part of the year. “These positions do not represent a wholly new cost in 2011,” said Ladret. “Nevertheless, staffing costs will increase. Hopefully, public satisfaction with regional district service
delivery will also increase.”
For some time, the regional district has had insufficient staff to effectively carry out all its governance, administrative and service delivery responsibilities, said Ladret. The deficiency was a result of a variety of factors, including more services to administer, technological changes, new responsibilities related to sustainability and climate change, heightened interest in and expectations for local government and increased requirements from senior levels of government.
“The current staffing level is not only inadequate to handle the existing situation, but also does not allow the regional district to address future demands or expectations for new regional district initiatives and services,” Ladret said.
Ladret’s retirement, as well as that of Pat Christie, administrative assistant, also contributed to the need to re-organize. More retirements are anticipated in the next two to five years.
