Administrative positions at the Lac La Biche County corporate offices continue to change, with the recent departure of the director of Community Services.
Maurice Brousseau left the position last week, confirmed the municipal spokesperson.
“Mr. Brousseau has left the organization under a mutual agreement,” said communications director Shadia Amblie.
Brousseau responsibilities involved overseeing several key departments within the municipality, including protective services, recreation and facilities, parks, culture and FCSS.
Several of those departments are now being overseen by Amblie in an acting administrative capacity. Another senior staff member, Debbie Menard, is also assisting in an interim capacity.
Details of Brousseau’s abrupt departure were not being released by county officials, with Amblie saying only that he reported to current acting CAO Barry Kolenosky and that he wasn’t under any contract.
When asked if Brousseau was paid a severance, Amblie said if there was, it was eligible through Alberta Employment Standards, and not based on a contract with the county.
Taking over jobs
Amblie said due to job vacancies, several key departments are now being overseen by senior administrators with little experience in those areas, but qualified managers in those departments are still conducting the daily functions.
“We have met with the managers and told them they are the experts. We aren’t going to pretend we are experts in every area of our operations.”
Acting directors, she said, deal mainly with budgetting issues, but the day-to-day operations of the departments are handled by a very competent staff.
“We are very confident in our managers’ abilities, no matter who is the interim director,” Amblie said.
Key titles currently vacant within the municipal offices include the CAO, manager of Environmental Services, Manager of Solid Waste Services, and a Legislative Services Co-ordinator. The municipally-owned Bold Center is also in need of a Manager of Recreation Facilities and a Marketing Coordinator.
Admitting it has been an fairly busy revolving door, Amblie said there have been some bright spots lately.
“We have filled our Transportation Manager position, and our Planning and Development opening,” she said, explaining that the changes on the payroll lists are “growing pains of the organization,” and they aren’t going to rush to fill the vacancies.
A meeting early this week will select a consulting firm that will actively seek candidates to fill the CAO position vacated a month ago by Duane Coleman.
The same firm will also be asked to help find candidates for more specialized positions within the operation.