County council has quietly appointed Peter Tarnawsky as its new head administrator just months after he was fired in connection with the Heartland Transmission Project.
Council voted 4-1 to appoint Tarnawsky as the county's interim chief administrative officer (CAO) after an in-camera session held late at night on Nov. 8.
Coun. Don McGeachy cast the opposing vote. Mayor Don Rigney and Coun. David Kluthe had left the meeting before the vote was held.
Tarnawsky had been fired from his job as the county's manager of public services last summer over his role in the county's presentation to the Alberta Utilities Commission at a hearing on the Heartland Transmission Project.
According to Coun. David Kluthe, council representatives under Tarnawsky's supervision had told the commission in their closing remarks that the aforementioned power line should be approved "without delay," which was contrary to what council wanted. This led then-CAO Chris Micek to fire Tarnawsky. Council felt that response was inappropriate and all but forced Micek to resign on Nov. 1.
Tarnawsky said he was ready to move on from the county, but still pleased when he got the call for this new job.
"I've invested two-and-a-half years in this organization and the community," he said. When asked why he accepted the offer, he said: "I see tremendous potential for growth."
He declined to comment on his dismissal but did say that it was more complex than some accounts would suggest.
Tarnawsky takes over as CAO from Ian McKay, who had held the job in addition to his old post of infrastructure services manager for about two weeks. Tarnawsky will remain the county's CAO for up to six months as council searches for a permanent replacement. McKay is still head of infrastructure services.
Tarnawsky said his main jobs over the next few months would be the 2012 budget, followed by the municipal development plan, the 127 Street functional alignment, and the just-commissioned Sturgeon Valley area structure plan.
"I'm happy to be here," he said, "and committed to working with council in a balanced and respectful manner."
Controversial decision
Coun. Ken McGillis said council decided to bring Tarnawsky back to lessen the workload on staff.
"We were basically down to two experienced [senior staff members] and one brand new employee," he said, and McKay was already loaded down with preparations for winter snow clearing. Tarnawsky was experienced and knew the county, so council decided to bring him back temporarily.
Kluthe criticized the decision, saying that it had been introduced as part of an in camera discussion about hiring a new CAO. When the other councillors raised the idea of hiring Tarnawsky, Rigney walked out of the meeting, saying that he didn't want any part of the decision.
"I listened [to the debate]," Kluthe said, "and once I realized that all four of the others had made up their minds before the day had started, I said, no, I'm leaving also … the four of you are going to do whatever you want, so see you."
There are plenty of qualified people that council could have hired other than Tarnawsky, Kluthe said, and he questioned how the CAO could act without the support of three councillors.
"I don't think it's going to work very well, really," he said.
Tarnawsky would not comment on the 4-1 vote.
"I can't expect all decisions of council to be unanimous," he said, "but I'll certainly treat them as such."
This decision did not mean that Tarnawsky was a shoo-in for the permanent CAO position, said Coun. Tom Flynn.
"There's been no commitment or suggestion that he would be favoured at all," he said.
Tarnawsky said he had yet to decide if he would apply for that job.
"I'm looking at this as a six-month assignment," he said. "If it feels good for me, and it looks like it's in the interest of the county and council, then I may put my name forward."
