A big shakeup at town hall has resulted in a senior managerial consolidation of two departments and the pending hiring of Innisfail's first full-time fire chief.
The decision to overhaul administration's organizational structure came during town council's in-camera meeting on Oct. 15.
And it included the bombshell announcement that Craig Teal, the town's highly respected director of planning and development, has decided to change his mind about going to Olds as that community's new director of operational services. Last month Teal announced he would be starting his new position in Olds on Oct. 16.
Teal, 43, will now become Innisfail's new director of planning and operations, a position that combines his old responsibilities with those of departed director of operational services Barry Baker.
“It was a similar opportunity, and some interesting challenges here in Innisfail that I am looking forward to working on – the question of industrial land supply, working with our public works and utilities group in addition to the staff I already worked with on a regular basis,” said Teal. “It was an attractive offer that came about and was the result of another vacancy in the organization. I was keen to take advantage of it.
“Olds is a neat little community and it has a bright future,” added Teal. “I have no concerns whatsoever about the town's ability to attract an equally qualified and skilled individual.”
Teal said his new post will greatly increase the number of staff working for him.
“Very much so,” he said, noting his previous position had only one development officer under him, along with contract arrangements with building inspectors, planning support workers and engineers. “Those will stay the same. Adding to that now will be 12 public works staff, plus seasonal and part-time labourers, plus six from the town's utilities group.”
Helen Dietz, the town's chief administrative officer, said the consolidation of the two departments will also include a new manager, likely someone with an engineering background. She said there will be “some” savings for the town with the new structure.
“It is like a manager position rather than a director position so that is where the difference in the savings is,” said Dietz, adding the new manager will report directly to Teal. “I gave some thought to that structure and thought, “Yes, that is pretty good. That should be able to work with the right person.”
Meanwhile, council also approved the hiring of the town's first ever full-time fire chief to replace the soon-to-be retiring John Syroid, who has been the department's part-time fire chief for the past decade. Dietz said the town should be advertising for the new post as early as this week.
“John gave us the end of this month as his date. I have talked to him since then and he will give us a hand until the end of the year, which hopefully gives us three months to recruit someone,” said Dietz.
She said the changes to the organizational chart also call for the new fire chief to report to Terry Welsh, the town's director of community and protective services.
“Terry has a lot of background and experience with fire departments. He has been a fire member in previous communities for years,” said Dietz.
She said the money for Teal's new position, as well as the one for the new full-time fire chief, are in this year's budget and will be included for the 2014 budget.
“The structure has changed and we will go forward in the 2014 budget with those changes as approved,” said Dietz. “I am not going into the 2014 budget looking for approval. I already have it.”
