Rossland council is pleased to announce that we have retained the services of two experienced and qualified individuals to temporarily fill key roles in city hall. With the immediate departure of Ms. Cecile Arnott, our current chief administrative officer/chief financial officer, we sought to divide the job into a more traditional configuration: chief administrative officer/corporate officer (CAO/CO) and manager of finance. These will be short-term contracts while we conduct an open and competitive hiring process for both of these senior management positions. We want to take some time to find the right fit for Rossland.
Ms. Lynne Burch has had a long and successful career in local government. She worked her way up through the ranks to become the corporate officer in Grand Forks; a position she held for several decades. During her tenure she was called on to be the acting chief administrative officer multiple times. For the last three years, prior to her retirement, she was hired as the CAO for Grand Forks and enjoyed the top spot very much.
Ms. Burch has excellent people skills as well as strong corporate officer credentials and experience. In the two or three months she will be with us, we look forward to learning new ways to professionally organize and manage the City of Rossland. Her primary role will be to provide the overall leadership for the corporation and work towards implementing council’s strategic plan. She will work closely with the finance department to ensure that we are providing good value for taxpayer money in everything we do. Careful monitoring of our major capital projects as well as ensuring that our next budget and five year financial plan are created in a fiscally responsible manner will top the “to do” list.
Mr. Steve Ash will be an expert financial advisor to the City of Rossland for an estimated period of up to three months. Mr.Ash will assist city council and staff with a review of its current financial situation, future impacts of anticipated operating andcapital expenditures, and business and taxation strategy.
Mr. Ash will also review the city’s financial policies and procedures, finance department staffing, procurement and assetmanagement. Finally, Mr. Ash will advise the CAO/CO and council on the hiring of a permanent chief financial officer (CFO).
Mr. Ash has an MBA with a very strong finance and business background. Many Rossland residents will know Mr. Ash as theformer CFO of West Kootenay Power and later president of West Kootenay Power. Others will know of Mr. Ash’s communityinvolvement including the Red Mountain Ski Club and the Rossland Sustainability Commission and as a businessman inRossland for the last thirty years.
Council looks forward to Ms. Burch’s and Mr. Ash’s role as key team players in the city’s transition toward long-term financialviability and strengthening the taxpayer’s trust in their local government.
For further information contact: Kathy Moore, mayor 250-521-1500 or mayor@rossland.ca.