CAO Recruitment, Selection and Performance Sub-committee · March 26, 2024 · Item 3.
CAO Recruitment, Selection and Performance Sub-Committee approve the proposed CAO Recruitment timeline and schedule as presented at their March 26…
Main motion under the agenda item CAO Recruitment Committee Report - 2024-154
Carried (5 to 0)
5 in favour, 0 against — unanimous
This was one of 2 motions on the same item
In the order council took them. A vote makes sense next to the ones around it.
- 1/2Main motionStaff to initiate the recruitment process, through the use of a third party…Carried (5 to 0)
- 2/2Main motionCAO Recruitment, Selection and Performance Sub-Committee approve the proposed CAO Recruitment timeline and schedule as presented at their March 26…you are hereCarried (5 to 0)
What was voted on
The motion in its exact words, as recorded in the minutes.
That the CAO Recruitment, Selection and Performance Sub-Committee approve the proposed CAO Recruitment timeline and schedule as presented at their March 26, 2024 meeting and that the Acting City Clerk and Acting General Manager, Human Resources be given authority to make minor modifications to the timeline and schedule as required and in accordance with any notice or other provisions of Council’s Procedure By-law.
Moved by Councillor Allt, seconded by Councillor Caton.
How the room voted
In favour (5)
- Allt
- Caton
- Downer
- Guthrie
- O'Rourke
Who spoke to it
Chair Guthrie spoke about the recruitment process. Scott Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer, explained his involvement in the process. Stephen O'Brien, Acting Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services, explained the expected schedule.
What council was given
The staff reports and correspondence attached to this item. The summaries are written automatically, so you can tell what a document is without opening a ninety-page PDF.
- CAO Recruitment Committee Report - 2024-154.pdf
With the City's top public servant position becoming vacant on July 22, 2024, this report asks the Council sub-committee overseeing the hiring to direct staff to launch a search using an outside firm and to bring back at least three quotes from executive search companies. Such a firm typically costs 25 to 30 per cent of the new CAO's salary plus expenses, estimated at up to $85,000, covered by the Human Resources budget.
A summary is this site’s description of a document, not the City’s. Open the document before relying on one.
What was said
4,816 words from the meeting recording, transcribed automatically. Times are from the start of the recording.
Read the debate(click to open)
5:33And just before I continue,
5:35I just want to welcome Councillor Caton.
5:37We'll be kind of stepping in to take over for Chair Karan
5:45as she's got some conflicts in regards
5:48to the recruitment process.
5:50And so Erin is going to be jumping in.
5:53So thank you for joining us, Councillor Caton,
5:56and we look forward to you being on the committee.
6:03So we have a recommendation based on the staff report.
6:08And maybe if I could just as the Chair,
6:10just give a little bit of a preamble for a moment
6:14and my feelings about the process.
6:17And then I'll maybe turn it over to our CAO
6:19with some comments, and then we can look to see
6:20if there's anyone that wants to table the recommendation.
6:24So really there's lots of options
6:26that are in front of us that we could choose.
6:29Inside, only going with an external third party
6:33that's known or kind of cast the net wide
6:36to see if there's another external third party consultant
6:39that could help us with this recruitment process.
6:44You know, my in discussions with both staff
6:48and with the CAO, based also on the last two times
6:52that I've been here through this process,
6:54it seems relevant and appropriate to me
6:57to continue to do what we did the last couple of times,
6:59which is to spread the net wide
7:01and to allow a consultant that gets chosen
7:05based on the criteria that we're looking for
7:07and then to use that consultant
7:09to kind of help us through the whole process.
7:11There is some costs to this process,
7:15but I feel that it's warranted.
7:17This does not happen all the time.
7:19It can be accommodated within the HR budget.
7:23And so there's kind of an up to amount that could be used.
7:28And I think that there is just a lot of validity
7:30and positivity and benefits that come
7:32with a external consultant that could help us through this.
7:35A different lens, I could maybe put it that way.
7:37There's a different lens that can offer some good insights.
7:40So that's kind of my feeling.
7:43If we do go with that recommendation,
7:46which happens to be the staff recommendation
7:48that's in the report, then within a few weeks,
7:50we'll get an answer back.
7:52We will come back together again
7:54and kind of really kick off things formally
7:56from that point forward.
7:57So that's the list of the report
8:00and where I think we should go as a committee.
8:02Scott, I will turn it over to you
8:04just to see if you have any comments as well.
8:06Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
8:07I'll say you're a wise man.
8:08I think that's great advice for the committee.
8:10There's certainly details, of course.
8:12And a couple of things here then today.
8:14So I'm just so that you sort of get a sense
8:17of where we're at staff wise too.
8:19I'm sitting in as a signatory to the report
8:22and that was done just so that we wanted to make sure
8:24there was no perceived or otherwise potential conflict
8:27of interest where it would normally be signed off
8:29by the DCO of corporate services
8:32because that individual may or may not be someone
8:36that throws their hat in the ring.
8:37So, you know, I won't be.
8:38So that's then a good safe place for me
8:40to sign off on this report.
8:42We're going to be in very capable hands.
8:44You've likely saw a notice that Stephen O'Brien
8:47has taken on this acting role in terms of HR.
8:50And so we've had some good discussions behind the scenes
8:53on moving that through.
8:54And Mr. O'Brien's got a couple of details
8:57that he'll put on the screen when we hand it off
8:59to him, Mr. Mayor, as well.
9:01That will be helpful.
9:03And I think, you know, after today,
9:05you're likely on the cusp.
9:07Once you make the decisions today,
9:09you're likely on the cusp of a lot of in-camera discussions
9:13because now you'll be dealing with the,
9:15if you go down the recommended path,
9:17you'll be dealing with the headhunters
9:20or the executive search firm.
9:21And then there's some privacy matters that come into play.
9:24And I know you would recognize that.
9:27And I think this will likely be the last one I attend.
9:29So unless there's some, unless there's just some authority
9:34needed for me to sign off on contracts,
9:36that will probably be the extent of my role after today.
9:39Unless, of course, you've got specific questions
9:41of me along the way,
9:42but you likely won't see me pop into these meetings
9:45after today.
9:46And so with that, Mr. Mayor,
9:48if you're comfortable,
9:49if we can hand it off to Stephen
9:51and he can walk you through some thoughts
9:53that are helpful just to wrap around this recommendation
9:56that's in front of you today.
9:58Thank you, C.A.O. Stewart.
9:59And through you, Mr. Chair, Mayor Guthrie,
10:01to the committee, everything that you've mentioned
10:04and alluded to, Mr. Mayor,
10:05is pretty much accurate and contained within the report.
10:09All the details are there.
10:10You have the staff recommendation.
10:12We do have a bit of a chart of dates to share.
10:16And I will ask that the clerk's team do that
10:18when the time comes.
10:19But what I'll mention before I start diving into that,
10:24this will be a fairly aggressive pace at which we move.
10:29So I wanted to make sure that we share with you
10:32those dates and those timings
10:34so that we can ensure that you secure that.
10:36The one recommendation that is not on the staff report
10:39that I would also look to the committee to move
10:41is simply to adopt that schedule as the go forward
10:44with obviously recognition that it might need be
10:47some flexibility that we manage within that.
10:49But that will ensure that you can get those times
10:52in your calendar as a committee
10:53and we can move at that pace that I think you need to.
10:57Mr. Stewart, as you're well aware,
10:58has given a line in the sand, so to speak, come July.
11:03We're working very diligently, obviously,
11:05to make sure that the city has good continuity
11:08in the role of C.A.O. after Mr. Stewart
11:11decides to depart the city after a well-deserved career
11:15in the public service.
11:16So that's really the impetus for the moving
11:19and the pace that we're at.
11:20But I'll turn it back to you
11:22and I'll answer any questions initially.
11:23And then perhaps once I've answered any questions,
11:25if there are any, I'll have the city clerk's office staff
11:27pull up that chart and I can walk you through that briefly
11:31and we'll take it from there.
11:33So back to you, Mr. Mayor, thank you.
11:35Great, thank you.
11:36Why don't we simplify this
11:38and at least just put the recommendation down
11:40on the floor if someone would be willing to do that for me.
11:43Okay, Chair O'Rourke and seconder for that.
11:48Councillor Caiten, thank you.
11:51Maybe we could get this portion accomplished
11:55and then we can go to the calendar
11:56or the schedule secondary to that, okay?
11:59Before I call the vote on just the recommendation
12:01on the floor, is there a question?
12:04Yeah, Councillor Allt, I mean Chair Allt, go ahead.
12:07Thank you very much, Mayor Guthrie.
12:09A question through you to Mr. O'Brien
12:13and it might need Mr. Stewart to also weigh in.
12:18I understand the requirements for a tight schedule,
12:22but related to that, I also am wondering
12:27whether we have the latitude to consider
12:29if we are not satisfied to possibly put someone
12:34in an interim role while we continue a search.
12:41Through you, Mr. Mayor, to the question from the Councillor,
12:43it's certainly something that we can cross
12:45that bridge as we get there.
12:46That might need to be the case.
12:48We're working again towards the line in the sand
12:51is the term I used, we'll work towards that.
12:53We also need to be mindful of,
12:56and actually Mr. Stewart alluded to it,
12:57we need to be mindful of who may be interested
13:00in coming forward to express an interest
13:02in putting their name through the recruitment process.
13:05And we'll have to balance all those things, Councillor Allt,
13:07but those are all things that we've contemplated,
13:09that we're aware of.
13:11We know that when we might have to action
13:14those kind of pathways and we'll make sure
13:16that the committee has ample information
13:19about that as we move through the process.
13:21Thank you for that response.
13:24I just want to make certain,
13:25just like we did last time with Mr. Stewart,
13:28that we do it right and if we need more time,
13:31I would rather take the long route to getting it right.
13:36Yeah, absolutely. Thank you.
13:38So any other questions?
13:39Yep, go ahead, Chair Orr.
13:42Thanks, Murgat three.
13:43So this question is specific to the recommendation.
13:47I'll have other questions in terms of process.
13:52This asks staff to bring back three executive search
13:57from quotations to present free valuation.
14:00Does that also include that members of this committee
14:02can do like a half hour interview
14:04with each one of those firms that are shortlisted?
14:06And the value in that is that we can see
14:10what the different approaches are.
14:12So we don't know what we don't know at this point.
14:14And so I'm wondering if that is the intent
14:18and if not to flag that,
14:21I think that would be an important option to consider.
14:25That's through you, Mr. Mayor to Chair Orr.
14:27Yes, that's built in.
14:28So it's not simply just gathering a document
14:31with a quote and some bulleted notes at all.
14:34What our intent is to approach these organizations
14:38and have them be available to the committee
14:41to offer a quick presentation.
14:44So they'll have the opportunity
14:46to ideally appear before the committee.
14:48And you can then ask questions of them.
14:50That will help you again, understand the process,
14:53understand the different options
14:54or the different approaches that might be available
14:56or that they might recommend pursuing.
14:58And then that will then collapse into making a decision
15:02on which firm to pursue and use.
15:05Great, I'm just trying to ascertain the degree
15:07to which the committee is involved
15:08in the selection of the firm and so all the way through.
15:11My other question is, and you can tell me
15:13if this is more into the details after the motion is passed,
15:17but will that recruitment firm report to this committee
15:20or will it report to staff?
15:22Is the staff role an administrative committee
15:25or an administrative one to keep, you know,
15:27schedule and get everybody lined up?
15:31Because I think there's value again
15:32in this committee hearing unfiltered from the recruiters.
15:37Yeah, through you, Mr. Mayor.
15:38Yeah, the answer is yes in a short answer, absolutely.
15:42We understand the process or the need to ensure
15:45that the work is shepherded and ushered along
15:48in a sort of an expeditious way,
15:50acknowledging Councillor Alts comments about doing it right.
15:53So getting it expeditiously wrapped up,
15:55but also doing it correctly and as required
15:58and as this position demands
15:59and the role that this committee plays
16:00in terms of overall governance for the city.
16:05This recruitment firm will report directly to this committee.
16:09This committee has the authority to make,
16:11to work through that process as delegated by Council
16:14and then the final recommendation will be made
16:18to Council from this committee.
16:20It in regards to a successful candidate
16:22through the recruitment process.
16:23We will play a role in supporting.
16:24We will make sure that you have all the information you need
16:27and it's presented in a timely fashion,
16:29but you'll be able to ask, you know, unfettered questions
16:33and ideally get unfettered advice back
16:35from that recruitment firm.
16:36Great, thank you.
16:40Great, there's nothing further than on the recommendation.
16:42How about we go ahead and at least get that out of the way
16:44before the schedule comes up on the screen?
16:46So I'll vote, I'll call the vote on that.
16:48Is anyone against that recommendation?
16:52So that's unanimous, that's great.
16:55So maybe to the clerks,
16:56you could throw that schedule up on the screen.
16:58I'll turn the microphone back over to you, Stephen.
17:01Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
17:01So before you, committee is a schedule,
17:04you can see the date today is that first row, row one.
17:08Beyond that are seven extra additional rows
17:11or sort of gates through this process.
17:13Our next objective will be to have a meeting
17:15on April 17th at about 10 a.m.
17:17And that will be to select effectively
17:20an executive search firm based on that gathered
17:22quotation information and further
17:24to your question, Councilwork.
17:25That's the spot in time where we believe
17:28that you'll have an opportunity to engage
17:30with the potential vendors that are reviewed
17:34and brought forward.
17:36You'll then enter into a discussion
17:37with that the selected search firm
17:39to contemplate questions and qualifications
17:42and skill sets that you're looking for
17:45in the next Chief Administrative Officer for the city.
17:48That follows through with obviously vetting,
17:51interview questions, et cetera.
17:53We're looking to target first round interviews
17:56for the CAO during the week of June 24th.
17:59All of these dates have been selected
18:01because they align generally with existing dates
18:04of Council meetings.
18:05We felt that that was most conducive
18:07for the committee members.
18:08They don't always obviously align
18:10with existing committee schedule meetings,
18:12but they're on the same days.
18:13We're trying to do some of this work in the morning.
18:15Obviously we need to get, when we get to interviews,
18:17we're gonna need a good portion of each of those days.
18:19So we've got estimated windows within that period.
18:23We've allowed for second round interviews as well.
18:26That may be something that the committee
18:27wishes to pursue.
18:29We've also contemplated and it was mentioned
18:32in the staff report, psychometric testing, et cetera,
18:35if that's something that the committee's interested in.
18:37These are all conversations that can be had
18:39with the executive search firm once it's selected.
18:42And then our ideal approach is to have a candidate
18:45recommended to Council for their July 9th,
18:482024 Council planning meeting.
18:50That does only leave two weeks of time between, again,
18:54I'll use the gentle term, line in the sand.
18:57But we will obviously need to be a little bit flexible.
19:00And so there's the schedule before you.
19:01I'm happy to answer any questions you have.
19:03We will make the schedule publicly available on gooff.ca
19:06so that it's viewable and understandable.
19:09And we will also have a motion,
19:12I'm gonna suggest to the committee a motion
19:14to allow us to place these firmly in the committee's
19:17calendars and a little bit of administrative flexibility
19:20to move some of those dates and times around,
19:22obviously with ample warning to the committee.
19:25But we're looking to sort of secure this
19:27in a timely fashion, but also allow a little bit
19:29of flexibility where we might need to adjust
19:31some of these dates and times.
19:33So I'm happy to answer any questions
19:34if there's questions on the proposed schedule.
19:39Thanks, Margarit, through you to Mr. O'Brien.
19:44Can you help me understand when the stakeholder
19:47conversations will take place?
19:49Because I would imagine those feed into the development
19:53of the CEO profile that has to be included
19:55in the candidates brief to the market, right?
19:58So are we doing the stakeholder engagement
20:03while we're also looking for the search firm
20:05so that we have some of that input?
20:08Or are we waiting for the search firm to say,
20:10these are the types of questions you should be asking
20:12in that consultation?
20:13Can you help me understand what the stakeholder
20:16consultation piece, I think it's important to do,
20:20but how does it fit in here?
20:22Thank you for the question, Councilman,
20:24through you, Chair Guthrie.
20:26We will very likely need to be contacting
20:29some of those stakeholders that are outlined
20:30in the report sooner than later,
20:32and in advance of an executive search firm,
20:34just to advise that there might be some questions coming
20:36so that they're aware,
20:37and they can begin to wrap their heads around it.
20:39This information is public and it's on the public agenda,
20:41so they can read through the staff report
20:44in the same way we've reviewed it today with you.
20:47The real work for the executive search firm
20:50will be between that April 17th date
20:53and the May 16th date.
20:55When we're looking at what kind of questions
20:57you might want to be asking of potential candidates,
21:00what qualifications are you looking for?
21:02And so once we sort of queue the external stakeholders,
21:06we'll make sure that they're aware
21:08that these questions are coming,
21:09and very early on with all of the executive search firms,
21:14we will make them aware that that's a requirement as well.
21:16And so they'll know that even before
21:18they may be selected as the preferred candidate,
21:21and that will allow them to hit the ground running
21:23as an executive search firm to then engage
21:25with those third parties and those stakeholder groups
21:30that we've identified in the report.
21:32Okay, through you, Mayor Guthrie.
21:33So the executive search firm will do those consultations
21:36and then propose a profile,
21:38or the members of this committee will propose a profile?
21:45So through you, Mr. Mayor,
21:46I think that's part of the ongoing discussion.
21:48When you have the executive search firm in,
21:52part of your evaluation won't just be the dollars and cents,
21:55that is certainly a part of it,
21:57but what do they bring to this particular process?
22:00And I think it's gonna be important for you to,
22:02you might look one better than the other
22:04just based on how they want to engage stakeholders.
22:08And so there's a bit of difficulty here.
22:10Some of this will be a parallel process until it isn't.
22:14And you might hear some of them say,
22:16we think you should just embed it into the job description
22:19so that whoever's applying knows,
22:21or there's maybe another way to do it.
22:23I think that's the value of what's your comfort,
22:27and then what are they bringing?
22:28So part of the unknown is we haven't got the,
22:31the next meeting you'll have the search firms.
22:34I think these are great,
22:35these will be great questions there
22:37so that as a group, when they're done,
22:39you're able to pick one of them.
22:41And it may come down to simply,
22:43we like the style of doing this thing better,
22:46and in the engagement piece and how it all fits in.
22:49And of course, what Mr. O'Brien's tried to do,
22:52he's tried to put some Gantt charts in there as well.
22:55And maybe there'll be some other moments in there
22:57that you have to maybe meet in between
22:59some of the bigger dates if there's a process
23:02to get it into the actual job description.
23:04So there's a bit of unknown,
23:06but I think you're on there,
23:07and we'll see what others are saying too,
23:09but I think you're on the right path.
23:11And I think you'll have a lot of this information
23:14just be right in front of you after that morning.
23:17I think it's morning that you meet
23:18with the executive search firms,
23:21and then you'll know at that point,
23:23there's a bit of trust the process
23:26to get to that point, Councillor O'Rourke,
23:28but it's not trust the process after that.
23:31You'll be making a pick based on
23:33how they deliver the presentation to you.
23:36And just the last question, Mayor Guthrie,
23:38how do we ensure through the process,
23:40and this may be a question for us to ask the search firms,
23:42but how do we ensure that we're casting them really wide,
23:45and we're ensuring a diverse pool of candidates?
23:49Through you, Mr. Mayor,
23:50that's a great question to ask the search firm.
23:52The reality is these organizations operate in that space.
23:56They're familiar with,
23:57and the report sort of leads to passive recruitment
24:00versus more active recruitment.
24:03Much of what we would do as an organization
24:04is make a posting for many of the positions we have.
24:07We do certainly engage executive search firms.
24:09The benefit that they bring is they can connect
24:12with folks in their network,
24:14individuals that may have been involved in other searches,
24:18to effectively sell the opportunity that is this role
24:22that the committee will be working through.
24:24So it's a little bit more of an active process,
24:26and that's, so yes, that's something
24:28that you can certainly discuss with the search firm as well.
24:30Okay, great, thank you.
24:33Go ahead, Councillor Caton,
24:35and then I'll go to Chair Downer.
24:38Thank you, through you, Mr. Mayor.
24:40How are we determining the stakeholders?
24:43Is there opportunities to expand the list?
24:48What are we considering like an internal stakeholder
24:51versus an external stakeholder,
24:53and our groups like our committees involved?
24:55What's the scope of that?
24:59So Councillor Caton,
25:01like all of that can come from us
25:03to the firm that we choose.
25:05So like once we filter down to the firm we want,
25:11then as a committee, we can say,
25:13these are the stakeholders we wanna make sure you're aware of.
25:16These are the ones we want you to call
25:18to meet with, whatever.
25:20So as a committee, we can totally determine that.
25:24Okay, and we've done that in the past just so you know.
25:28So your question is 100% accurate
25:32because we've done it in the past.
25:33Yeah, we've done that exact questioning in the past.
25:36You still have the floor though.
25:37Did you wanna keep going?
25:38No, I'm good, thank you.
25:40Okay, okay, and then Chair Downer.
25:44Yeah, thank you, through you, Mr. Mayor.
25:45Yeah, to assure everybody that the last time
25:48all these discussions happened with the firm that we picked
25:51and all will come to light
25:54and expanded however we want to do that.
25:56But I would just wanna point out to the clerk's office
25:59that you had April 17th at 10,
26:03that's the housing symposium day.
26:06And they already changed their date
26:08from the night to accommodate our council.
26:11So just a red flag there.
26:16You know, there is a placeholder in for that night.
26:20There's the 18th or the 15th, I don't know, but.
26:24Yeah, through you, Mayor Guthrie,
26:26and thank you for that, Councillor Downer.
26:28We have a motion that will allow a degree of flexibility
26:31for us to shift some of that.
26:32And that's the exact kind of example
26:34where we might need to see that shift.
26:36We have placeholder on that date.
26:37We can sort of move it maybe perhaps to the evening.
26:41Yeah, moving.
26:41But we'll evaluate the schedule of things
26:45like that housing symposium and work to fit it in
26:47within roughly around the same date that we've identified
26:51with that authority that ideally
26:53with this next motion committee can offer us
26:55so that we can be flexible and a bit more agile
26:58in terms of schedule of things.
26:59Yeah.
27:02Great.
27:04So I'm not quite sure why you think you want a motion
27:09in regards to the scheduling.
27:11I think that would almost be like to me,
27:14it's like a takeaway.
27:15Like you'll work with my executive assistant in my office
27:18and the greater committee on sort of the blanket schedule
27:23that you've done, but with permission to tweak here
27:26and there as our personal schedules
27:28and work schedules allow.
27:31What would you need a motion for that?
27:33To you, Chair Guthrie, the motion for us is really,
27:35it avoids us having to do multiple quorum checks
27:38for the committee to secure the times.
27:40And it does give us the direction
27:41to allow us some flexibility.
27:43So some permission space to allow flexibility to move.
27:46So adopt a schedule in sort of principle
27:49and give us some flexibility and some authority
27:51to be able to move dates as we can as Councillor Downer
27:54has alluded to a perfect example of that.
27:56And we would obviously continue to work with your staff.
28:00We would be connecting probably very directly
28:03with each of you confirming that these dates are secure.
28:06I mean, you'll effectively approve them now,
28:08but if there is a change to one of those dates,
28:10we would be circling in with this group
28:12without the need to really do a formal quorum check
28:15and that's really the root of it.
28:17Sure, okay.
28:19Just before I continue then, sorry,
28:22can you throw the schedule back up one more time?
28:24I just wanna make sure there's no conflicts in June
28:26with FCM.
28:33I think June is at the,
28:34I think FCM is at the beginning of June.
28:37So I think we should be okay there.
28:39Really the six and the nine.
28:40Yeah, yeah, we should be okay.
28:43Okay, so at the appropriate time,
28:45we can just move a motion that the committee
28:47approve the schedule in principle.
28:51That's simple as that.
28:52To you, Mr. Mayor, I've got a motion
28:54that I've shared with the clerk's office team
28:56that they can pull up if you're willing to do.
28:58If there's no further questions,
28:59you can tackle that now.
29:00Sure, why don't you pull it up?
29:02But I think it may be Councillor or Chair Allt could move it,
29:05but Chair Allt, I think had his hand up.
29:07So you're just wanting to move it for me, Chair Allt.
29:09You're okay with that?
29:11Great, it's that the CAO recruitment selection
29:14and performance subcommittee
29:15approved the proposed CAO recruitment timeline
29:17and schedule as presented at the March 26, 2024 meeting
29:21and at the acting city clerk
29:23and acting general manager human resources
29:25be given authority to make minor modifications
29:27to the timeline and schedule as required
29:30and in accordance with any notice
29:32or other provisions of Council's procedural by law.
29:35Okay, perfect.
29:36Who wants to second that for me?
29:39Councillor Katelyn will do that.
29:40Thank you.
29:42Anything on that?
29:44First question.
29:44Sure, Councillor Orwock, our Chair Orwock.
29:47Through you, Mayor Guthrie, to Mr. O'Brien,
29:49possibly Mr. Stewart.
29:51So it's just about timeline
29:52and about the potential to need an interim CAO.
29:55Sometimes when people retire,
29:56they have a lot of banked vacation
29:58and they take their last six weeks of banked vacation.
30:01And so just in anticipation of timing and this schedule,
30:08is it Mr. Stewart's intention to work right till the last day?
30:13Through you, Mr. Mayor.
30:14I'll defer to CAO, Stewart, on that one.
30:16Now that Councillor Orwock's put that thought on my head,
30:19wait a minute, that's the intention.
30:24And then things come up.
30:26There's some personal things for me, of course,
30:29selling a house, buying a house,
30:31all of that stuff is at play for us.
30:34And yet at the same time,
30:35I'm trying to manage to this date as well.
30:38So if we get there and there's likely a good chance
30:42of some personal things like that,
30:45it also depends on perhaps who may or may not be applying.
30:49And I think at that point,
30:50that's a good conversation to have.
30:52Have we got someone that could step into the acting role?
30:55And then we never have any potential conflict.
30:58So we'll let us keep our eye on that.
31:00And that was me deflecting as much as possible
31:03to answer that directly.
31:05It is the intention, July 22nd,
31:08I don't know why it's a Monday, it's the last day.
31:11But we have sold our house faster than we thought.
31:15Let me say that.
31:16It went in 24 hours, so that's just ridiculous.
31:21So that's pressure on,
31:22I have to find a place to stay as well
31:24in between buying somewhere else.
31:26So that doesn't really matter to anything
31:29that you're about to do other than
31:31it can create some thing at the very end, I think.
31:33And I'm gonna try my best to keep you all informed
31:36of where we are and then not getting trouble
31:40at home front either.
31:41So I've got some balance to do there.
31:43Good plan, thanks.
31:44I'm just trying to think of the variables.
31:46And through you, Chair Guthrie to Councillor Roig.
31:50I like in this, I mean, I use the term gate.
31:52It's like a series of bridges.
31:54We've sort of got to cross each bridge as we go
31:56to get where we're going.
31:57And we may not know the outcomes of things
32:02until we cross those bridges.
32:03So we'll continue to move through the process
32:05as you've seen and as CEO Stewart alluded to,
32:07if we need to sort of move into the space
32:10of contemplating and acting CEO for a period of time
32:13to bridge the time between Mr. Stewart's departure
32:17and the incoming CEO,
32:18that's something that we can easily cross as we get there.
32:23Okay, great.
32:24I'll call the vote then on that last motion.
32:26Is anyone against that schedule?
32:29Nobody, so that's unanimous as well.
32:32Is anything further at all?
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