BATTLEFORD — The council of the Town of Battleford held a special meeting on Thursday, April 27, to appoint an interim CAO for the town in place of Ash Alam, who is currently in his home country of the United Arab Emirates for a family emergency.
“At the time when Ash left, he did not appoint an interim CAO or an assistant CAO in lieu of his absence. So, we are here tonight asking council’s permission to appoint the interim CAO … I am recommending Noreen Hoffart,” Mayor Ames Leslie said at the meeting.
Leslie said Hoffart, currently executive assistant, has a municipal management certificate, meaning she has the first level for the position. It is not required, however, as according to Leslie, the town has 90 days to remove the title of CAO or make it permanent.
At her request, Hoffart will be appointed for 30 days, or until Alam returns and the role automatically defaults back to him.
In 30 days, council will revisit the appointment if need be.
“Noreen, in my mind, would be a good choice because she’s worked at town hall for a long time … she’s worked under quite a few CAOs so I think she knows the ropes and is well-equipped to fill in when we need her,” Councillor Shelly Boutin-Jervais said.
Councillor David George asked if the wage has been negotiated, and Leslie said that it has not at this time, but they will discuss it later following the appointment.
George asked if anyone else was considered for the appointment, with Leslie saying, “... just a couple of discussions with other staff members, and it was a very quick no,” Leslie reminded council of the urgency of the appointment as they are unable to conduct their May 1 council meeting without a CAO.
“This situation is unique. It’s not often you have an employee who needs to take a long-term leave,” Mayor Leslie said of Alam’s absence in his comments to the media.
Mayor Leslie noted that although Alam has been participating in meetings remotely, he didn’t appoint an interim CAO in his absence as he anticipated returning to Battleford by now.
“We hope he’s back within two or three weeks, but we just need to take these steps to make the business of the town continues,” Mayor Leslie said, noting that only the CAO has the authorization to approve accounts and pay bills.
“We have to take the steps to make sure we have somebody legally in that position to move us forward.”
