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Chief administrator resigns, Beamish named interim CAO

District of Sechelt

The District of Sechelt’s top administrator has resigned and a former Gibsons CAO has been enlisted to take over the position on an interim basis.

Ron Buchhorn, chief of innovation and growth since April 2013, will continue in his role until Dec. 31 “with the full support of mayor and council,” the District announced last Friday.

The announcement followed a Dec. 10 in-camera council meeting.

“It was a cordial and professional discussion of options with a mutually agreed upon outcome,” Mayor Bruce Milne said in an email the next day, after staff was informed of Buchhold’s resignation.

On Wednesday, the District announced the appointment of Bill Beam-ish as interim chief administrative officer, effective Jan. 1.

Beamish was CAO for the Town of Gibsons from 2002 to 2007. In 2008, he served as interim CAO for the District and from 2009 to 2011, he worked with Sechelt council on strategic planning initiatives. He also has experience as a senior administrator and consultant for local governments in other areas of the province.

The changes are “part of the shift from government as business to government as democratic institution,” Milne told Coast Reporter.

Milne said the search for a permanent CAO would start soon.

“However, there will be no rush,” he said. “We will take the time necessary to fill the position appropriately.”

In a statement released Wednesday, Milne said council decided to return to an organizational structure that includes a CAO at the helm.

“By securing the services of an experienced individual to oversee District operations for the next few months, council can focus on recruiting a professional manager to lead our staff in the delivery of local government services based on the strategic direction established by council,” he said.

Beamish’s appointment is expected to continue for three to four months.

Meanwhile, in closed session after the Nov. 15 election, the previous council voted to award Buchhorn a bonus of $25,000 and to offer to extend his contract for a four-month period ending May 31, 2015 at $15,500 per month, “with no bonus entitlement” and all other terms to remain the same.

The resolutions were released at Wednesday’s council meeting.

In its Dec. 12 announcement of Buchhorn’s resignation, the District said Milne and council “thank Mr. Buchhorn for his service to the District and wish him well in his future endeavours.”