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www.pgfreepress.com ■ INITIATIVES PRINCE GEORGE
McEwan payout almost $140,000
Board initiated change at the top of Prince George’s economic development agency DELYNDA PILON
newsroom@pgfreepress.com
Initiatives Prince George CEO Tim McEwan left the organization at the board’s request because it was looking for a change of direction in leadership style, according to the board’s vice-president, Mark Feldinger. Feldinger said McEwan did an exceptional job for four years, but it was time for a change. “Tim was brought in as a transformative leader,” Feldinger said during a press conference Friday morning. The conference came in response to Freedom of Information and Privacy Act requests from the media surrounding the departure of McEwan from IPG. When McEwan announced his departure Jan. 30, the release said he was leaving to pursue new and exciting opportunities, however the board approached him Jan. 13 and informed him of its plans. Between then and its signing on Jan. 27, terms were negotiated for a departure agreement including six months full salary and benefits, a $15,000 bonus at the end of the six months and a $20,000 moving allowance, totalling nearly $140,000. The agreement includes clauses promising neither McEwan nor the board will disparage the other but speak positively in keeping with agreed-upon ‘talking points’. Both parties agreed to maintain full confidentiality regarding the terms of what is being referred to as a negotiated departure agreement. A press release from the board says the agreement was negotiated with advice from an independent legal advisor. It goes on to say that after the agreement was made but before it was signed, McEwan informed the board he had received a job offer he was inclined to
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Council bites Coyotes DELYNDA PILON newsroom@pgfreepress.com
Te re sa M A LLA M / Fre e Pre ss
The Vanway Trebles perform for an appreciative audience at a Showcase Recital on Saturday evening at Vanier Hall. The recital and festival gala wrapped up the 61st annual Prince George and District Music Festival. accept. Feldinger said the agreement was signed to minimize the economic impact to IPG and the City of Prince George, the organizations chief shareholder. McEwan had 28 months remaining on his contract, and Feldinger pointed out the negotiated terms cost significantly less. He added IPG wants to be better aligned with the city’s goals and pointed out there is a new mayor and council in place as well as new members on the board. “We’re looking for a more collaborative approach with the city. I think Ms. (Heather) Oland is ably suited to that role,” he said of the current acting CEO. Feldinger said after the board has the opportunity to review her performance they will confirm that, or not.
He added IPG will be going through a service review which will include looking at its strategic plan and possibly refining it. “I suggest the general tenets will not change dramatically,” he said. However questions remain regarding the fairness of McEwan’s departure package. McEwan left IPG, a publicly funded company, and became associate deputy minister for Major Investments, another publiclyfunded company, effectively taking over one job while enjoying the fruits of a departure agreement from the other. And at least a portion of the salary in both arenas comes from the public purse, whether at the municipal or provincial level. MLA Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innova-
tion, under which the Major Investments office will fall, said he did not hire McEwan, but became aware of his addition after he was offered the job. “The process started last December when the position was posted,” Bell said. “That is managed by public service, so I was not aware he’d been offered the position until after. In terms of Tim’s package, it isn’t something we were involved in, nor would it be appropriate for us to be. It really is an issue between Tim and IPG. It really is not appropriate for me to get involved in that.” Mayor Shari Green said, if challenged, the move is probably a legal one though whether or not it is moral remains questionable. “The issue for the community and taxpayers is he is getting taxpayer-funded severance pay and going to
a taxpayer-funded job with the province. If it was challenged, it’s probably legal. Whether it’s moral, whether it leaves a good taste in the taxpayer’s mouth? Well, the answer is no,” she said. Currently, Green said, the service agreement existing between IPG and the city outlines management of the organization, and through this agreement the city maintains an arm’s-length approach. However, with goals of creating a stronger relationship and ensuring communication is solid, the finance and audit committee is currently reviewing that service agreement. “Does the city need economic development? Yes. I believe we need IPG. The city needs to ensure the taxpayer is protected. IPG needs to be stable, and we will get there,” she said.
There will be no Coyotes at 355 Vancouver St. An application to turn the old Odeon Theatre into a night club featuring highend country and western bands as well as a large dance floor was denied before reaching the first two readings of a rezoning bylaw. Council followed the recommendation made by staff to deny the application for a variety of reasons, with Coun. Frank Everitt voting to move the application forward, which would have meant scheduling a public hearing. Everitt said stopping the process before a public hearing sends the wrong message to investors. “We said we are open for business,” Everitt said. “I think the applicant deserves a public hearing. This sends the wrong message to investors.” Coun. Cameron Stolz disagreed. “We may be open for business but not any business in any spot,” he said, adding that an application for an MDF plant in the downtown core would not make it to first and second reading either, though it may be a welcome addition to another area. Stolz said the key piece for him in denyturn to PAGE A2