In a move that Mayor Lyn Hall called "mutually agreed" upon, Beth James has left her employ as Prince George city manager after 20 months.
Hall said the decision by James and the newly elected city council to part ways reflects an intention to set a new direction for Prince George.
"Beyond that I can't make much [of a comment] because of course it's tied obviously to the personnel piece which we do in closed [session]," Hall said.
What exactly the city's new direction is, however, has yet to be determined.
"That will be something that council will certainly discuss," said Hall. The new council has a strategic planning sessions set for the end of the month.
"The city thanks Ms. James for her dedicated service and wishes her success in her future endeavours," he said.
James joined the city as chief administrative officer in May 2013 as the replacement of Derek Bates, who held the job for six years before resigning in the fall of 2012.
As she did in the intervening months between Bates' departure and James' arrival, corporate services director Kathleen Soltis will serve as acting city manager until a permanent replacement is found.
Hall said while "we understand we'll have to proceed with that," he couldn't provide any details on when or how the search for a new city manager would proceed.
The role of city manager is the senior-most administrative job at the city, and the only one which can be hired or dismissed by city council.
The last time the position was vacant, a national search was conducted with the help of recruitment firm Odgers Berndtson. According to city financial statements, Odgers Berndtson was paid a total of $35,629 in 2012 and $32,464 in 2013, although it is unknown if the firm was used for any other work in those two years outside of finding a new city manager.
James, a North Shore native, was unveiled as the successful candidate from a 40-applicant field back in March 2013. It was James' first foray into the world of local government following a career of senior executive positions in the provincial government and private sector.
James' resume included work as a consultant specializing in business transformations and alternative service delivery models such as shared services models and outsourcing as well as participation in the provincial core services review.
She was quickly tasked with putting that experience to work, essentially rewriting the city's core review and shuffling departments, rebranding senior management as the "executive team" and creating a succession management plan with new associate director positions.
James' hiring was a unanimous decision of council, former mayor Shari Green said back in 2013. There are still six members of the previous council serving in the new term.
Hall said he couldn't comment on whether this recent decision was unanimous.
He said he also couldn't comment on the reason for council's decision to part ways with James, or on any severance she may be entitled to.
However, a press release released on March 12, 2013 regarding James' hiring reported her annual salary at $212,000, plus $6,000 vehicle allowance, 30 days vacation and benefits.
The release said James would be eligible for severance pay of six months salary, plus one month for every year of service - to a maximum of 18 months.
Based on the formula provided in the release, James would be eligible for almost eight months salary: approximately $140,000.
