SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The city's director of planning and development has stepped down from his role to take on the same job in Ontario.
Yellowknife's director of planning and development, Jeff Humble, has stepped down from his job, according to a news release from the city. - NNSL file photo |
Jeff Humble has accepted a position as Peterborough's director of planning and development in Ontario, according to a news release issued by the City of Yellowknife on Wednesday.
"The city would like to thank Mr. Humble for his professional dedication over the past 10 years to our community and city administration. On behalf of the city of Yellowknife we wish Mr. Humble the best in his new position," the release stated.
Local media in Peterborough announced just after midnight on Tuesday that its city council would be taking Humble on as its new director of planning and
development.
City of Yellowknife director of communications Nalini Naidoo told Yellowknifer Humble would not be speaking to the media about his resignation at this time.
"It's a personnel matter," deputy mayor Adrian Bell said when asked whether Humble's decision had any relationship to two other recent moves by city staff.
"I think he's had a good relationship with council," he added.
"He's a progressive planner and I think he brought a lot of modern, urban planning principles to bear on his work."
At the end of September, senior administrative officer (SAO) Dennis Kefalas requested to transfer to a lower position as director of public works and engineering after Chris Greencorn left the role. Kefalas previously held the position before taking on SAO responsibilities in 2012.
Yellowknife fire chief Darcy Hernblad then retired at the end of October. John Fredericks, who is the fire chief for Kirkland Lake, Ont., has accepted the position and will begin in his new role on Dec. 5, Naidoo said.
Coun. Linda Bussey said she thinks many people at the city were surprised to hear of Humble's resignation and that another city council across the country was making a motion to hire him.
"I think that he's got knowledge. He has understanding of planning," Bussey said, adding that Humble was an easy person to work and communicate with.
"So is it a loss? Yes."
Bussey said Humble helped her realize how important planners are to the city and its future generations. The person who fills his shoes will need to be someone who has vision and isn't afraid of making changes, she said.
Coun. Julian Morse said he is appreciative of all the work Humble has done for the city over the years and wishes him well in his next position, adding he is looking forward to working with whoever takes on the role next.
With some movement already happening at the city, Bussey said she respects that Humble will be staying on until the next planning director is hired.
Kefalas' move "stunned" staff last month, she said, but explained that it's important that he and Greencorn are choosing to move to positions that will make them happy.
"I think it's important that you skip to work and that it's not work - it's something that you like," Bussey said.
Humble worked as Yellowknife's director of planning and development for 10 years. His end date has not been determined, but the city expects to start recruiting for his replacement "shortly," according to the news release.
