No shared manager for ACRD and city: consultant

Wawmeesh G. Hamilton - Alberni Valley News Published: May 26, 2010 6:00 PM

The City of Port Alberni and Alberni Clayoquot Regional District should not share a manager; so says a consultant hired to study the feasibility of the initiative. Consultant Jerry Berry recommended Wednesday that the ACRD board of directors not pursue the shared concept for a variety of reasons, but in particular because of “…significantly serious conflicts associated with adequately representing regional taxpayers’ interests in ongoing future discussions aimed at service rationalization.” Berry’s report also noted that in order to administer good government to taxpayers, both sides need to have strong, professional, competent, independent and trusted representation in any negotiations or policy discussions. “These last two critical requirements simply cannot be met by a single individual acting for both entities simultaneously,” the report noted. “We tried to look at a different way of doing things,” ACRD chair Hira Chopra said. “But it’s in the best interest of the ACRD to have their own CAO, that way there is no bias.”

The arc of events leading to the report started in January. Then, former manager Rob Sabine and the ACRD parted ways. At the same time, the city was looking to trim its budget in the wake of Catalyst not paying its full municipal tax bill. The $5,000 contract to examine the feasibility of the plan was underwritten by the Ministry of Community and Rural Development. The ACRD board will discuss the report further and decide what next step it’s going to take at their June meeting, Chopra said. Whoever the new CAO is, he or she should be local, Port Alberni Mayor Ken McRae said. “A consultant was paid to find the last candidate and he didn’t work out,” he said. “A local person would know the issues, know the ACRD and more importantly would be a part of the community.” Ken Watson is the city manager while Wendy Thomson is the acting ACRD CAO.