In the story 鈥榃ho鈥檚 running the village?鈥� published in the Lakes District 亚洲天堂鈥� Aug. 30 issue, in the absence of 亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 chief administrative officer (CAO) council decided to appoint a different CAO every two weeks.

亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 former mayor Bernice Magee said she was 鈥渧ery surprised鈥� by council鈥檚 decision.

鈥淭o ask current employees to assume the role of CAO is very disturbing,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll of the inside employees are new to this place of employment and have no experience in CAO duties; they are still learning the responsibilities of their own designated area of employment.鈥�

Rebecca Billard, the first village staff to be appointed as CAO, has been working for the village for approximately four months.

鈥淚t is unfair and unwise to ask these employees to assume these duties and responsibilities,鈥� said Magee.

Magee pointed out that the Local Government Management Association of B.C. (LGMA) can often assist municipalities by connecting them with recently retired administrators, who may be available on an interim basis.

鈥淭he LGMA has a bank of qualified employees that can be hired to come into a community on a short-term basis to fill in for the absent employee,鈥� explained Magee. 鈥淚n the past, when an employee has been off work due to a lengthy illness or has left the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake for another place of employment, the LGMA has been able to suggest to the municipality a number of potential short-term experienced employees to fill the gap.鈥�

鈥淚t is my understanding of the current situation, that this opportunity has been overlooked,鈥� she added.

Jerry Berry, president of JB Consultants, has specialized in local government for over 36 years. When asked for his opinion on 亚洲天堂 Lake council鈥檚 decision, he said that the constant change of CAOs could be 鈥渄ifficult鈥� for village staff and council.

鈥淕enerally it鈥檚 best to have one person designated [as CAO],鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 normal practice to have one person accountable.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 entirely up to council what they want to do and how they approach it, but they are accountable for the results,鈥� added Berry.

Under the direction of mayor and council, the CAO is responsible for the overall management of all operations of the municipality and has direct responsibility for all staff.

The next employee to be appointed as CAO for two weeks is director of public works Dale Ross, who started working for the village exactly one year ago.