The City of Nanaimo’s first communications director, Philip Cooper, is no longer with the municipality, but the city is mum about why.
John Van Horne, city human resources director, confirmed in an e-mail Friday that Cooper is no longer with the City of Nanaimo, but said full details on “the realignment will be communicated in early October, when all the pieces are in place.”
Until that time, no other comments will be provided, according to Van Horne.
Chief administrative officer Tracy Samra did not respond to a request for an interview.
Cooper was hired in 2012 as the city’s first communications manager after a tight 5-4 vote by Nanaimo city council. Then-mayor John Ruttan told the News Bulletin that one thing that came through loud and clear in a citizen survey was a lack of communication between city hall and the electorate and hiring a communications manager would address that.
It’s not known if the city will fill the position.
Last May, Samra said the communications department was at capacity and she planned to grow the city’s three-person team with a full-time position. There is only one communications official now listed on the website.
The announcement was a surprise to Mayor Bill McKay, who heard it through the rumour mill. He couldn’t speak on the issue of whether it was by mutual agreement, resignation or termination because he said he doesn’t have that information, but he does want to know ultimately what will be done for a replacement.
Nanaimo council made the motion about a communications manager as a higher service level and McKay said it’s his belief that unless council rescinds that motion, or resolution there’s going to be a bit of a challenge in respect to reorganization, which he understands this latest decision was a result of.
“In my view, it’s a bit of a sticky situation because it was a council-approved motion that hasn’t been rescinded. So I would look forward to a report on what our organization looks like and we should rescind the original resolution and create a new one,” he said.
McKay said Cooper did good work and was a dedicated employee.
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“I believe he was very good at his job and I am going to be curious to see what the new direction looks like,” he said.
Coun. Diane Brennan found out Cooper was no longer with the city on his last day earlier this week.
“I am sorry that he’s no longer our communications officer. I wish him the all the best,” she said.
Coun. Jerry Hong called it an “HR” issue and said council only has one employee, the CAO, and it’s her decision to restructure whatever she sees fit to do the work of council.
“We don’t have a say in who is hired and who is fired and how that goes. It’s usually way beyond us,” he said. “I support the CAO’s measures to do what she needs to do to get the job done that we’ve tasked her to get the job done.”
Rod Davidson, who worked with the city for nearly five years as its parking manager, and then as manager of bylaw, regulation and security had his position cut in a restructuring earlier this month. City chief operations officer Brad McRae has taken on bylaw enforcement.
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