SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Bob Long, the top bureaucrat at city hall whose administration became a source of controversy during last month's municipal election, has been removed in a unanimous vote by city council.
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SAO's salary
Mayor Mark Heyck refused to reveal what the salary range is for the city's senior administrative officer, or the price of Bob Long's severance package during a news conference to announce his departure yesterday. The earnings Long receives is part of a confidential contract that the city had agreed not to reveal, said Heyck.
That said, Yellowknifers can get some idea of what city SAOs make by looking at the city budget, marked under "city administrator." According to the draft 2013 budget, $415,000 has been budgeted for wages and benefits for two employees. In the 2012 budget, this line item covered three employees, including the SAO's executive secretary and amounted to $472,000.
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Following a vote the previous evening to make public works director Dennis Kefalas the acting senior administrative officer (SAO), Mayor Mark Heyck told media yesterday that Long's position was "the first topic of discussion" council wanted to address after being sworn into office, and thus was quickly acted upon.
"I think there was an appetite for change in the way city hall approaches the community and communicates to the community and relates to the community," said Heyck.
"I think we saw some of that in the results in the election and I think that is a theme of trying to take a fresh new approach that the new council wants to carry forward."
Council candidates acknowledged public frustration during the election campaign toward poor communication at city hall and difficulties getting answers to questions from city staff. It culminated in a now infamous query by mayoral runner up Tim Doyle during a candidates forum, who demanded of Heyck - who as deputy mayor took part in hiring Long - what his plan was to "rein this man in."
Long also became a target for criticism earlier this year after it was revealed the city was allowing him to park his floatplane for free on city-leased land while trying to push through a controversial public floatplane dock in Old Town with moorage fees of $500 per season.
"I think it was just a fresh new approach that council wanted," said Heyck, when asked where Long came up short. "We talked over the last few weeks since the election about the change that council wants to see in the way that the city does its business and the way we relate to the community. The feeling was among councillors that we needed that change in leadership of the senior administrative side to start to accomplish that."
All of council approved Kefalas as acting SAO Monday night until the position is filled. Based on the time it took to hire Long in July 2010, Heyck said it could take between four to six months after the new year to replace him. He said the job has not yet been posted publicly, however, the city is arranging to advertise the position in the coming weeks.
He said in the past the city has had a hiring committee composed of the mayor, deputy mayor and manager of human resources to acquire a senior administrative officer. He added that council has the option to interview candidates as the SAO reports to council and mayor.
Former mayor Gord Van Tighem, who was part of the team that hired Long in 2010, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. He said in an outgoing interview that the public criticism of Long during the election was unfair and should have been dealt with in a performance review.
Several city councillors approached by Yellowknifer about Long's dismissal declined to comment yesterday.
Source: City of Yellowknife
