City manager “very confident” in new finance director hire

Prince Albert city manager Jim Toye stands behind his internal choice of finance director.

“This is not a nepotism thing. This is about me hiring the person who I’m very confident is going to be a very, very key part of the senior administration team,” Toye said.

On March 1, the city hired corporate services director Steve Brown to fill the role left in finance by Joe Day. Day and assistant director Tammy McKay where let go Jan. 5. The city has not commented publically about the departures calling them only “personnel issues.”  

“(Brown’s) got great training in asset management,” Toye said. “He’s been to Australia to train…It’s a big part of our business as we move forward. We were lacking that in this particular department.” Toye added Brown had skills that were underutilized in his past position in corporate services.

While Toye lauded Brown’s past experience – finance director in Humboldt, work with the ministry of government relations and in the private sector – he admitted the vacant position was never advertised. Brown also did not apply for the role, instead he was approached by Toye.

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“I’ve been involved in this business for over 30 years. I’ve hired internally without going outside in this city with other jobs (and) in other cities I’ve been. What I’ve done is I’ve had people in positions where I gave them authority, for instance the director of community services was an internal…the fire chief was the same thing,” Toye said, adding these two examples have worked out “very, very well.”

Toye said he looks at an applicant’s education, skill set and knowledge, and, of course, experience when hiring. He will always look internally when seeking a new hire. However, he’ll seek from outside city hall if there isn’t a candidate who matches his criteria.

The city manager said, at the end of the day, the decision to hire or fire nearly any city hall employee is within his discretion.

On Feb. 22, during a regular council meeting, Coun. Lee Atkinson made a motion to give the city manager authorization to hire a professional recruiter or head hunter to aid in the hiring of any senior director’s position.

Usually, the city manager would have to get council’s approval every time he hired a recruiter, but Atkinson’s motion gave Toye permission until May of this year.

At the time the motion was carried, Atkinson said “I think this is imperative because every other department in the city is built upon this information coming from (the finance department). I think it’s prudent that we find the best person possible to lead that department.”

Now understanding Toye did neither hire a recruiter or post the open finance position, Coun. Atkinson admitted to being slightly disappointed.

“It flies in the face of the motion or the intent. I don’t know how that intent was missed that you just go away and fill it internally,” Atkinson said.

While he doesn’t disagree it’s Toye’s decision to hire, he had hoped the city manager would have taken advantage of a recruiter.

dreynolds@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @danitska