Council rejects recruitment funding

Crowsnest Pass council, in a tie vote, defeated a motion that would have allowed administration to use up to $100,000 from the mill rate stabilization reserve to support hiring a municipal recruitment firm as the municipality continues efforts to fill two senior vacancies that have remained open, one for four months and one for up to six months.

The motion, brought forward by Councillor Colleen Macdonald, would allow administration to use a specialized recruiter to fill two critical senior management positions, director of finance and director of development, engineering and operations.

Deputy CAO Kristin Colucci told council the municipality has been struggling to fill the roles through regular postings.

“These are big gaps right now,” Colucci said. “These are painful gaps.”

She said the municipality does not typically use recruitment firms because of the cost, but noted the positions require municipal experience and professional credentials that are harder to find.

Colucci said the municipality’s human resources manager has been actively interviewing candidates, but housing remains the main factor slowing down recruitment.

“Most time it’s a housing issue, candidates can’t find suitable housing,” she said. “That’s part of our preliminary discussion is how we look for housing because a lot of the offers stall out there.”

Council heard recruitment firms can charge roughly 30 per cent of a successful candidate’s salary, a cost that would be in addition to wages paid to the new employee. Colucci said the municipality had used a recruiter in the past and any future agreement would need stronger retention terms than the six-month period she had seen previously.

Macdonald’s motion was to approve up to $100,000 from the mill rate stabilization reserve, if required, for the use of a municipal recruitment firm to help fill the two positions.

Councillor Dean Ward said he was not opposed to spending money to fill the vacant roles but wanted to ensure any contract included protections if a new hire did not stay.

“I don’t mind spending the money and doing what we have to do to fill these positions,” Ward said.

Councillor Doreen Johnson said she supported giving administration more resources, but wanted more clarity around any spending cap, time-line and funding source.

Councillor Tony Vastenhout suggested administration return if more money was needed, but council ultimately voted on Macdonald’s motion after further discussion.

The motion was defeated in a tie vote with councillor Darren Nastasi absent.

During discussion, Colucci stressed council would not be directing how hiring is done, but simply authorizing another tool that administration could use if needed.

“You’re not directing me on how to do it, you’re just giving me another option,” she said.

The debate came after Mayor Pat Rypien opened the meeting by acknowledging staff pressures and thanking employees for continuing to work under strain.

“I want to acknowledge many of you are feeling stretched and under pressure as you manage increased responsibilities, yet you continue to do a good job,” Rypien said.