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Fort Smith in search of new SAO
Job competition process expected to take weeks more

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, February 2, 2015

THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
The Town of Fort Smith is on the hunt for a new senior administrative officer (SAO).

This follows the resignation of former SAO Jim Hood, effective Jan. 9.

"Jim resigned for personal reasons," said Mayor Brad Brake in an e-mail interview with News/North. "It was an amicable departure. Mr. Hood performed his duties well."

The job competition to replace Hood, who was SAO for about two years, opened in early December after he gave notice he was leaving the position. The competition closed on Dec. 19.

The town hopes to have a new SAO in place soon, said Brake. "The process is still underway and may take a number of weeks yet."

In the meantime, Keith Morrison, the town's director of municipal services, has been named interim SAO until the job competition process is completed.

"Mr. Morrison has acted in the position for Mr. Hood on a number of occasions," noted Brake.

The mayor said there has been no impact on the town as a result of the change.

"The town requires an SAO position, and it would not be fair to Mr. Morrison to require him to fill the position and complete his own duties as director of municipal services for an extended period of time," Brake said.

An SAO is "very important" to the smooth operation of the town, he said. "The duties and responsibilities are many, varied and vast."

When contacted by News/North, Morrison said he has filled in as SAO before.

"The period of time between Jim's departure and the position getting staffed is going to be no greater than a span of time for somebody going on vacation," he noted.

The interim SAO doesn't anticipate any significant effect on the town, adding, "It may take me a day longer to return a call than it would have normally."

Morrison was appointed interim SAO by a motion of council, and he assumed the position upon Hood's official departure on Jan. 9.

Under the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, the town has to have an SAO.

Morrison is not involved in the process of hiring a new SAO. That is being handled by a human resources committee made up of members of council.

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