Updated: January 30, 2009 4:26 PM
A new council with a new direction has sent another Coldstream staff member packing.
Just six weeks after Coldstream council dismissed chief administrative officer Wendy Kay, another staff member is leaving.
Catherine Lord, director of financial administration, has put in her notice effective the end of February (the last two weeks of which she’ll be on holidays).
“They (council) are going in a different direction,” said Lord of her decision.
“It’s not the direction I want to go.”
Lord, who has worked at the district for four years, adds that council’s decision to dismiss Kay definitely played a part in her decision to leave.
“We actually had a really good management team here,” said Lord, adding that she will miss the staff.
“It’s a super group of staff.”
Lord’s announcement comes as a surprise to Coun. Bill Firman.
“It came out of the blue. We never had a fight with her, there was no complaint, I don’t know why,” said Firman, who is one of the few councillors who has worked with Lord longer than a few months.
While Firman doesn’t deny that this council is heading in a new direction, he believes Lord’s decision is more of a personnel matter, which he could not discuss.
“There is a new direction, and for the better. No doubt about that,” said Firman, pointing to water distribution problems and local issues that are finally being focussed on.
“But it’s got nothing to do with her that I ever saw.”
The loss of Coldstream’s director of finance comes at a time when council is anticipated to discuss the budget, which must be finalized in May.
Firman anticipates the district will get through budget deliberations with the aid of an accountant.
After February, Lord plans on remaining in the area to pursue work.
She came to Coldstream following a lengthy 18-year career with the City of Vernon as deputy treasurer.
Last year, she was nominated for Vernon Women in Business’ Woman of the Year award.
She is currently involved with the North Okanagan Community Foundation and has previously served as treasurer at the O’Keefe Ranch, was involved with the Vernon Women’s Transition House Society, Vernon Rotary Club and was president of the Ribbons of Green Trail Society during the construction of the boardwalk.
Mayor Jim Garlick could not be reached for comment.
Just six weeks after Coldstream council dismissed chief administrative officer Wendy Kay, another staff member is leaving.
Catherine Lord, director of financial administration, has put in her notice effective the end of February (the last two weeks of which she’ll be on holidays).
“They (council) are going in a different direction,” said Lord of her decision.
“It’s not the direction I want to go.”
Lord, who has worked at the district for four years, adds that council’s decision to dismiss Kay definitely played a part in her decision to leave.
“We actually had a really good management team here,” said Lord, adding that she will miss the staff.
“It’s a super group of staff.”
Lord’s announcement comes as a surprise to Coun. Bill Firman.
“It came out of the blue. We never had a fight with her, there was no complaint, I don’t know why,” said Firman, who is one of the few councillors who has worked with Lord longer than a few months.
While Firman doesn’t deny that this council is heading in a new direction, he believes Lord’s decision is more of a personnel matter, which he could not discuss.
“There is a new direction, and for the better. No doubt about that,” said Firman, pointing to water distribution problems and local issues that are finally being focussed on.
“But it’s got nothing to do with her that I ever saw.”
The loss of Coldstream’s director of finance comes at a time when council is anticipated to discuss the budget, which must be finalized in May.
Firman anticipates the district will get through budget deliberations with the aid of an accountant.
After February, Lord plans on remaining in the area to pursue work.
She came to Coldstream following a lengthy 18-year career with the City of Vernon as deputy treasurer.
Last year, she was nominated for Vernon Women in Business’ Woman of the Year award.
She is currently involved with the North Okanagan Community Foundation and has previously served as treasurer at the O’Keefe Ranch, was involved with the Vernon Women’s Transition House Society, Vernon Rotary Club and was president of the Ribbons of Green Trail Society during the construction of the boardwalk.
Mayor Jim Garlick could not be reached for comment.
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Coldstream Council has not sent another staff member packing!
It is true that this new Council has a new direction but that was anticipated by the electorate when they elected this Council. Staff's responsibilities are to carry out Council's directions. It is not staff that dictate policy directions, it is the representatives of the taxpayers who do that. A staff member who is unwilling to follow the new directions has a choice of resigning and that is what happened here.
With the comment "It’s not the direction I want to go”, the Director of Finance announced that she would have preferred to dictate policy. That was not her role, thus, she took the honourable alternative of resignation.
Obviously, Council will miss her dedicated service but in a democracy the elected representatives set policy!
It is true that this new Council has a new direction but that was anticipated by the electorate when they elected this Council. Staff's responsibilities are to carry out Council's directions. It is not staff that dictate policy directions, it is the representatives of the taxpayers who do that. A staff member who is unwilling to follow the new directions has a choice of resigning and that is what happened here.
With the comment "It’s not the direction I want to go”, the Director of Finance announced that she would have preferred to dictate policy. That was not her role, thus, she took the honourable alternative of resignation.
Obviously, Council will miss her dedicated service but in a democracy the elected representatives set policy!
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