By Spencer Sterritt

Nanaimo councillors overturn staff, reinstate funding for communications director role

Apr 5, 2018 | 5:18 PM

NANAIMO — Moves are being made to rehire a director of communications at the City of Nanaimo, after staff recommended the position not be replaced.

During a finance committee meeting on Wednesday, councillors recommended adding money to the 2018 budget for a new communications director. Senior management removed funding for the position in the financial plan presented and approved by councillors in late 2017, requiring them to reinstate the funding.

Former communications director Philip Cooper was suddenly let go from his position in late September 2017 and staff were told to carry on with what they could and fill in the gaps left by his absence. The role has been unfilled since his departure. The move came after CAO Tracy Samra previously commented in 2016 the City was actually looking to grow the department since they were overwhelmed with work.

“I can’t think of a single City our size that doesn’t have a communications director,” coun. Diane Brennan said during Wednesday’s discussion. “(They’re) very helpful to all of the departments, assisting them in creating their relationship in the community. Their major role is to assist Council, to get out what it is we want to get out.”

The 2018 property tax increase is expected to rise to fund the position.

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Financial planning manager Wendy Fulla told councillors it would cost roughly $150,000 in salary, benefits, equipment and training.

Coun. Jerry Hong said he couldn’t support the motion because there were other more important positions to be filled.

“Just because Council feels we need a communications officer, that’s not what staff are telling us.”

Following Cooper’s ouster, communications with the City became significantly more difficult. Previously, reporters could email individual staff members to arrange interviews, with Cooper often acting as a go-between to ensure efficient responses.

However, the policy quickly changed, with the City insisting all media requests be submitted in writing to the City Clerk for approval by the CAO before staff were allowed to speak. Media requests from NanaimoNewsNOW often went unanswered, even after numerous follow-ups.

The tightened media policy was quickly abandoned after the CAO went on paid leave in early February 2018.

A search of six like-sized communities around B.C. found all had a formal communications manager role.

City Clerk Sheila Gurrie told councillors she used consultants to help with communications in 2017 and a special consultant for a personnel matter in 2018, but didn’t have details on hand as to how much that cost.

The communications director position was first introduced in 2012 following a council motion to increase service levels at the City.

Mayor Bill McKay argued during the discussion staff never had the ability to remove the position entirely since Council didn’t rescinded their motion for it. However, it was explained since Council had approved the provisional budget in late 2017 which didn’t have the funding, they had to make a specific motion to bring back the funding.

The motion passed 5-4, with coun. Bestwick, Fuller, Hong and Kipp opposed.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit