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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Edmonton headhunting firm used to hire ousted city manager Bob Long three years ago is noticeably absent from the hiring process seeking his replacement. Today is the deadline for applications.

The city has been without a senior administrative officer since November when the newly elected council fired the embattled Long during an in-camera meeting as one of its first acts of business. Since then, public works director Dennis Kefalas has been holding down the job temporarily. Long was let go after an acrimonious municipal election campaign where several mayoral and council candidates complained about management at city hall.

When Long was hired in 2010, Edmonton-based hiring consultant firm Davies Park Executive Search, which works for municipalities and large companies to find mid-to upper-level management positions, met with council and researched the market for a matching candidate.

This time the hiring process will be conducted entirely by a city hall committee made up mostly of city councillors. Councillors say the reason for this is more due to the cost of hiring a consultant and its confidence in its hiring committee rather than any shortcomings they see with Davies Park.

"In the past the city was just building its capacity in the human resources department and we have gotten to the point now where the department has a lot more expertise," said Coun. Bob Brooks, who was filling in for Mayor Mark Heyck on Wednesday.

"In the past we went to a recruitment agency. However now that we have the in-house expertise, and are big enough, it only makes sense to do it in-house. You end up saving a bunch of money and the people you are using to process the applications know about Yellowknife, about the city's operations and are a little bit more informed about what goes on in the city."

According to Davies Park office manager Kathy Chandra, not using a firm like hers is understandable.

"It is getting harder because municipal money is getting tight and companies (and councils) are tending to do them on their own now," she said. "Just because the nature of the searches change and there are more people online, so headhunting has changed since the (1980s)."

City councillor Cory Vanthuyne, along with Heyck, Coun. Linda Bussey, and human resources manager Marie Couturier sit on the hiring committee, which will interview shortlisted candidates. Vanthuyne said he expects the position to be filled by the end of March. This time around more attention will be put toward candidates with knowledge of local, Northern issues, and council will have a more of a voice on who is chosen this time, he said.

"One thing I can certainly say is that there could be somewhat of an advantage for those who know and understand the North fully," said Vanthuyne.

"This is not critical of Mr. Long but I can certainly say that not being a Northerner, or (not) being from Yellowknife in particular, and when you are not familiar with who the players are in government or business, it will be a very challenging position."

Council ultimately made the decision when Long was hired but the hiring committee was smaller last time - consisting of Couturier, Heyck as deputy mayor and former mayor Gord Van Tighem - and relied on Davies Park to find candidates.

Couturier said the city has received about 20 resumes earlier this week, and was expecting more to come in today. She wouldn't say how many were local or from existing city staff. In 2010, Yellowknifer reported there had been 27 applicants.

Fact file

History of Yellowknife's

senior administrative officers

Feb. 14, 1940 Albert F. Totzke 6 years

Oct. 3, 1946 M.D. MacGillvray 4 years

Oct. 11, 1950 Phyllis Lynch 6 years

April 13, 1956 Jean Sivestor

May 9, 1956 D.F. Russell 1 year

Sept. 3, 1957 Marjorie Williams

Oct. 23, 1957 John Buck 6 years

May 23, 1963 Daniel Edward Konelsky 6 years

March 10, 1969 A/SAO Dora Pelletier

April 14, 1969 Boleslaw Olazamowski 6 years

Aug. 24, 1970 A/SAO Kathleen Dacorte

May 12, 1975 R. Simons 2 years

April 26, 1976 A/SAO Andrew E. Johnston

June 13, 1977 Andrew E. Johnston 1 year

Oct. 23, 1978 Richard Walshaw 3 years

Jan. 5, 1981 Hugh Stevenson 4 years

Feb. 11, 1985 Barrie Robb 2 years

June 8, 1987 Doug Lagore 10 years

June 3, 1998 Max Hall 12 years

July 19, 2010 Bob Long 2 years

Source: City of Yellowknife

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