Keith Dewar steps down as Victoria mayor, takes on CAO role

VICTORIA, P.E.I. — The agricultural municipality of Victoria has seen one other shuffle of its council after its mayor stepped down in June.

Throughout a June 13 council assembly, Keith Dewar introduced he would step down as mayor successfully June 19 to take over the place of chief administrative officer for the municipality.

The transfer from mayor to CAO was a vital one, because the municipality’s present CAO, Hilary Value, had solely agreed to take the place once more quickly till Could of this yr, stated Dewar in an interview July 21 with SaltWire Community.

Because the municipality was in the course of its sustainability examine, council figured making an attempt to rent a full-time CAO earlier than it stabilized the place wasn’t the appropriate transfer, stated Dewar.

“We talked about it round council (earlier to the June 13 assembly), and we stated one of many choices was for considered one of us to resign and tackle the assist and oversight of our new finance and admin assist individual and tackle the duties of the CAO till we work out a longer-term future for the municipality,” he stated.

Following discussions, Dewar stated it was decided he ought to make the transfer, because the place aligned greatest together with his schedule and commitments exterior of the municipality. Dewar took over the place on June 20 on a short lived foundation, waiving a weekly wage in favour of a small stipend for the time he places in.

“I’m actually simply right here to assist out till we end our examine and work out how we’re going to maintain and assist a CAO,” he stated.

“I’m actually simply right here to assist out till we end our examine and work out how we’re going to maintain and assist a CAO. Whether or not that’s one that’s full-time, part-time, one we share with one other group or can we have a look at some type of amalgamation course of, that is simply to attempt to purchase the group a while to determine issues out.”

Keith Dewar

“Whether or not that’s one that’s full-time, part-time, one we share with one other group or can we have a look at some type of amalgamation course of, that is simply to attempt to purchase the group a while to determine issues out.”

The change in roles has left Dewar with an entire new set of tasks and has modified the best way he’s anticipated to work with the municipality, he stated.

Whereas on council, because of the Municipal Authorities Act, he was unable to finish any work for the municipality and was as an alternative anticipated to steer and direct choice making, stated Dewar. Now as CAO, he’s coping with the alternative.

“Now, I’m overseeing the work of the municipality and taking data to council for his or her choice if it hasn’t already been made although the funds course of or official growth plan bylaw,” he stated.

Dewar’s exit as mayor has additionally meant a change in tasks for one more member of council. Pat Smith, who was deputy mayor, is now sitting because the interim mayor for the municipality.

“When Keith made the choice, which all of us agreed with as council and felt this was one of the best ways ahead at this level, that meant I used to be going as much as the position of mayor,” she stated.

“Clearly, there may be much more duty as appearing mayor, however I felt I used to be keen to do my greatest to serve within the place as a result of I felt that was one of the best ways I might assist transfer the group ahead.”

Smith, a longtime member of council, stated having Dewar take the position of CAO and, in flip, stepping in as mayor herself will permit extra time for the municipality to finish its sustainability examine, which can think about all choices for the group to maneuver ahead – together with amalgamation.

“Even once we do have an answer to shifting ahead, these aren’t fast fixes. If we’re making any type of change to the standing of the group, this might take years as a result of clearly it will contain our neighbouring communities. The very first thing you must do is start dialog,” she stated.

Smith stated the aim is to complete the examine earlier than the subsequent election in November to permit council to make its choice on shifting ahead.

As for her future within the position of mayor, Smith stated she gained’t be re-offering and can take her go away from municipal politics in November.

“It’s time for the subsequent era (to step in), individuals with completely different concepts and new vitality,” she stated.

“I’m fairly certain there’s a approach ahead, and we have to discover the people who find themselves keen to take us into the subsequent stage of Victoria.”

Like Smith, Dewar additionally stated he can be stepping away in November, placing a time restrict on how lengthy the municipality may have its CAO. He stated hopefully in that point, council and the municipality will even be capable of stabilize the place a bit and resolve on one of the best ways to safe a brand new CAO.

Victoria, like another small municipalities, has had points retaining somebody in its CAO place. A part of that stems from the implementation of the Municipal Authorities Act, which noticed quite a lot of tasks fall upon the CAO, stated Dewar.

In some circumstances, that prolonged the CAO’s work week in Victoria from 37 hours to between 55 and 60 hours, he stated.

Dewar additionally stated those that take up the CAO place typically discover a related alternative in a special municipality that provides greater than Victoria can.

“It’s most likely not a foul wage, however we don’t have advantages,” he stated.

“In most locations if you happen to work for presidency, you most likely get a 20-something-dollar-an-hour price, however you get advantages price most likely 20 per cent. You get well being care, you get good trip time, stat holidays, all that.

“We don’t have a well being plan, we don’t contribute to a pension plan; principally what you receives a commission is what you get.”

Dewar stated he hopes the sustainability examine will even handle how they will mitigate that situation in a significant approach.