Embattled Innisfail chief administrative officer Helen Dietz says she is “surprised” over allegations of low morale at town hall after several weeks of public anger over the abrupt dismissal of fire chief Dean Clark.
Dietz commented Friday by email to the Province after a 10-member citizen delegation presented a three-page letter to town council on Nov. 28 that asked elected officials to formally call in the province to conduct an inquiry into her conduct.
Mary Flemming, one of two citizen spokespersons who addressed town council, said there was a “problem” in town with a “lot of very, very bad morale”, adding the community is demanding answers to why two fire chiefs were dismissed in less than two years. Popular fire chief Dean Clark was dismissed by the town without cause on Sept. 7, triggering the current widespread community anger.
“I take these concerns very seriously, there have been changes to the staff complement over the years at the town, employees have moved on, retired or been dismissed. It is my belief that, in an organization of our size, the numbers are not unreasonable,” said Dietz. “I recognize that such actions often raise questions – questions that unfortunately, due to strict legislation, can't always be directly answered.
“I am surprised to hear of claims of low morale at the town. We have a great group of staff that not only get along with one another exceptionally well, but who also for the most part seem to enjoy coming in to work every day,” added Dietz. “Nonetheless, I fully acknowledge the concerns that were expressed, and will continue to work diligently with council to address them.”
In the meantime, members of council are quick to defend Dietz, who was hired in 2011 to become Innisfail's CAO.
“As was stated during the meeting, council stands firmly behind Dietz, and continues to support her very capable management of the municipality,” said deputy mayor Mark Kemball in a Letter to the Editor that will be published in the Dec. 6 edition of the Innisfail Province.
“I assure that we're apprised and consulted in every major decision she makes, and have the utmost confidence in her abilities to lead Innisfail forward.”
The letter presented to council addressed 14 questions to council over the Sept. 7 firing of Clark, including council's role in his dismissal, policies on staff dismissals and the direction Dietz wants the Innisfail Fire Department to take. It also requested council formally ask the provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs probe the performance of Dietz.
Council and delegation members agreed to an early January deadline for the questions to be answered.
For more on this story read the Dec. 6 edition of the Innisfail Province.
Helen Dietz, Innisfail chief administrative officer
"I am surprised to hear of claims of low morale at the town. We have a great group of staff that not only get along with one another exceptionally well, but who also for the most part seem to enjoy coming in to work every day."
