By Pepper Parr
October 30th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Another senior staff member rides into a Retirement Sunset.
Laura Boyd who has been with the city for decades has retired. The Communications staff didn’t release any notice – City Manager Tim Commisso just mentioned that there was an Acting Executive Director.
Laura Boyd
Boyd was not everyone’s cup of tea. She bought into the Notices of Trespass that former City Manager James Ridge issued without the authority to do so.
Several years ago Boyd issued a strongly worded report on just how poorly the different departments were not working together all that well.
As news people the Gazette applauded that report.
Boyd did see the city into a staffing growth plan that was a challenge to manage.
There was a culture problem that we don’t think was all that well understood. Some very good people left Burlington to work is municipalities that were very close by.
Hamilton got two that were doing fine work – they just found that the environment wasn’t what they were comfortable with.
There was an assistant city clerk that found future growth didn’t offer much promise.
City Manager Tim Commisso has made some superb staff selections – most are female and young.
Tim will be vacating the City Manager office early in January – Will the Mayor talk him into serving the city is as a consultant?
Every City Manager has a style of their own. With the city in the midst of a rapid population growth for the next eight years – whoever Council chooses will have ideas of their own – unless Council chooses one of the Executive Directors to take on the job. There is at least one that has the skill set – the chemistry with Council might not be what Council, especially the Mayor, is looking for.
Related news stories:
Boyd sticks to her numbers – keeps the staff compliment
HR Executive Director comments on culture at City Hall
Perhaps that’s why she is retiring!