St. Albert city council is shaking up life in suburban Edmonton with a decision to sack its city manager and embark on some major restructuring.
The decision to get rid of chief administrative officer (CAO) Bill Holtby was announced in a tersely worded press release on October 4, and it followed an earlier decision supported by Holtby to sack the city's director of tourism and business development in September.
According to St. Albert's newspaper of record, the St. Albert Gazette, the earlier move didn't sit well with the city's business community, which has viewed the CAO as being less than welcoming to major development opportunities.
The northwest suburb of Edmonton has long had a bit of a NIMBY reputation when it comes to development, and although it has enjoyed continued growth, its growth rate has generally been lower than in other suburbs.
"Effective immediately, council will establish a new division with a focus on economic development. A new general manager will be recruited and will oversee areas such as business development, marketing and economic development," St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse announced following the decision to send Holtby packing.
from Western Investor November 2011
