If Initiatives Prince George president Tim McEwan left his position to take another job, he should not be receiving severance pay, stated Mayor Shari Green in an e-mailed response to an inquiry from Coun. Brian Skakun.
The information was revealed in the City of Prince George's response to The Citizen's Freedom of Information request for McEwan's severance pay.
McEwan resigned from his position on Jan. 30, citing "exciting new opportunities" in his letter to colleagues.
On Feb. 2, Skakun sent Green an e-mail inquiring about McEwan's severance.
"I was wondering if we can [find] out if Tim McEwan was let go from IPG or left on his own, and what it will cost for him to go?" Skakun wrote to Green.
In her response Green stated her understanding is McEwan was, "leaving to pursue exciting new opportunities."
"He would have an employment contract with IPG, and the terms of that would likely dictate if a severance is to be paid, depending on his reason for departure," Green replied. "I would certainly hope he is not receiving one if he is leaving for another job. That would be totally inappropriate and I can't imagine he would do that with taxpayer dollars. I will inquire, but I don't believe it is in our privy to know the terms."
In an interview Thursday, Green said she stands behind her statement in the e-mail.
It is not normal business practice to provide severance packages to employees who quit to take a new position, she said.
"If he's leaving to take on an exciting new opportunity... why on Earth would we pay severance for that?" Green said. "When someone is fired with cause or without... you do get severance and there is rules around that."
IPG chairperson Glen Wonders said the agency will respond to The Citizen's Freedom of Information request for McEwan's severance information.
