Two Lac La La Biche County councillors who voted to end the contract of the municipality's CAO, Shadia Amblie, say they did it because it was time for a change at the top of the administrative ladder.
"I voted in favor of the change in leadership," said Rich Lake area councillor Darlene Beniuk. "Council will move forward in search of a strong leader for our County. I thank Ms. Amblie for her years of service to the County, and wish her well in whatever her plans are moving forward."
Beniuk said acting interim CAO Dan Small, who has been the municipality's senior manager, will take over the role as council moves forward. Beniuk doesn't expect residents to notice any problems with the transition.
Darlene Beniuk was one of six Lac La Biche County council members who voted to end the CAO contract after a closed-door meeting on Tuesday.
"All services and programs will continue to run as smoothly as they did yesterday," said Beniuk.
Councillor Colin Cote, one of two representatives elected in the hamlet of Lac La Biche, said the dismissal was not something he agreed to lightly.
"This was not an easy decision," Cote told the POST. "I voted in favor because I have to act in the best interest of the County and I believe new administration leadership will be good for the county and its residents."
Cote wished the outgoing CAO well in the future.
"I thank Shadia for her past work and wish her success in the future," he told the POST.
Cote and Beniuk are both first-term councillors, elected in 2017. The POST has requested comments from all council members after Tuesday's decision to immediately end Amblie's contract. As of Wednesday afternoon, councillors Jason Stedman, Sterling Johnson, Colette Borgun and deputy mayor George L'Heureux had not responded to requests for comment sent to their municipal email addresses.
Amblie was appointed to the CAO position in 2015 after spending more than a year as the interim CAO following the firing of the previous chief administrator in an attempt to find stronger leadership. Amblie has been with the municipality since 2009.
