What I’d really like to know is the city managers contract. When does that come due? If the next mayor, and or the next council, finds that he is the one that needs to go, then is his contract structure so as to tie the hands of that council and mayor? Or is it structured so that it comes due at a time when political decisions can be made without all the ridiculous severance payouts we see.

I see it all cynically as political patronage. I have no doubt these things are not taken into consideration when these contracts are awarded by our civic governments, but well manipulated by the players on the receiving end.

I think if the city manager contract comes due during this council term then they will have an onus on their council to ensure they give the next council an option to evaluate and decide without a wicked severance package clouding the decision making process.

I blame the dysfunctional and dishonest backroom nature of the city with the city manager.

The mayor is engaging in petty politics and the only one winning here is Tim McEwan. From where I sit the mayor and the city are looking like petulant little children. It would have been so much easier to take the high road and just state that she wanted him gone and this is what it cost.

Petty politics and ego trips are front and center while the every day priorities of the city appear to be taking more and more of a backseat!

BTW, the City’s garbage truck fleet has some of the most rusty and semi-delapidated vehicles I have ever seen! When a vehicle developes a rust spot it must be looked after right away, because once rust is ignored it soon eats away the metal to a degree which might impair the structural integrity of the truck!

With regular maintenance and rust prevention/painting any truck can be made to last a very long time!

Such is the price of simply running equipment into the ground: Soon all the trucks will have to be replaced – homeowners, get ready for another tax hike!

Well said Ben…..nailed it!

The package given to Tim will seem like chump change compared to the amount of money wasted if the focus of IPG is mainly the downtown core.

Any business they do manage to attract to the core will most likely be just a relocation from another part of town. Who benefits from this, certainly not the taxpayer. Someone with landholdings in the core would see the value go up.

The chance to revitalize the core as a whole passed 20 years ago, time to read the last rights. Why throw good money after bad on this rotting corpse. Time to downsize the plan and maybe actually see some progress made.

BTW The rust on the garbage trucks can be used as an analogy for most of the city owned infrastructure be it roads, sewer, water, etc.

As part of the next DBIA event downtown the city could hold a beauty contest of sorts. All of the department heads could compete for the title of Miss-Manager 2012. There would be stiff competition and even have Vegas style odds and betting. Would be a tough choice between streets dept at 2-1 and the head miss manager at 3-2odds.

I think the downtown core should be turned into walking only with cobblestone streets, only delivery and pickup vehicles allowed. There could be a central warehouse where all stores deliver all big items for customers to pickup. No vehicular traffic would mean a lot less street maintenance. All bigger stores would be on the outskirts, like furniture retailers and the like. There is so much that could be done with the downtown core instead of always flogging the same old dead horse and trying to entice big stores into the downtown. They all want to be out on the outskirts anyways where there is ample parking available.

“”As to what date McEwan knew he was accepting the provincial offer is meaningless. He could easily tie it to the date of his departure. The fact is that the power that be, didn’t want McEwan at IPG. He wasn’t playing ball with the city “Big Brass” and the shakers and movers who run city hall.””

From the reports I’ve read it appears he was actively seeking another position, and must have just returned from an interview to be ‘expecting a job offer’.

It appears that Mr. McEwan fleeced the IPG board and the taxpayers of Prince George…shame on him. And as usual the appearance is that the BC Liberals have a hand it this also….shame shame shame. :-(

Renew his contract, tell the public he is doing a great job, and then a few months later begin negotiating a severance agreement. Oh so Prince George.

As for downtown PG let it die a natural death just like the downtown of other similar sized cities. People want parking and access to big box stores. It’s called progress. Just like self check out at the till, or ATM’s.
Unless you count parkwood there is not even a grocery store located in the core any longer.

“It appears that Mr. McEwan fleeced the IPG board and the taxpayers of Prince George…shame on him. And as usual the appearance is that the BC Liberals have a hand it this also….shame shame shame. :-(“

Good grief. Let’s not let the facts stand in the way of a good rant.

By all accounts his departure was being negotiated well before he started pursuing other avenues. What’s he supposed to do? Sit on his hands and not look to the future?

He didn’t fleece anyone. It’s called a contract and it had to be honoured.

“”By all accounts his departure was being negotiated well before he started pursuing other avenues. What’s he supposed to do? Sit on his hands and not look to the future?””

Severance packages are meant to carry a person over until they have a new position in place…they are not meant to be a windfall win like a lottery. Shame on the professional that fleeces his employers like this…shame shame shame. Accepting such a generous severance package when it wasn’t needed sure shows the character of the so called professional…shame shame shame

Isn’t this just reflective of the mindset of the people running this town, and maybe reflective of society as a whole. Dangle a bunch of money in front of someone and they take it without a seconds thought. Doesn’t matter if it’s needed, doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong. The perception is that they are entitled to it because it is offered. If this money was paid directly out of the pockets of the no minds that negotiated this contract, would they have been so eager to give it up? And to say this is a good deal because the onlyu other alternative was another 28 months left in his contract which would have cost more is bogus as well. Isn’t someone going to replace him and most likely at the same salary? So they will effectively be paying 2 CEOs $170k/yr contract over the next six months. And to add insult to injury he get a bonus at the end of it too boot which is equivalent to another months pay, plus a moving bonus that is equivalent to another months pay and then some. Meanwhile we have people living on the streets and looking for the biggest pothole to climb into. But who cares….it was in his contract and he was ENTITLED to it…right Ben?

If people have a problem with other people taking what is offered, perhaps they should find ways to get into positions where they make the decisions.

Nobody seems to mind when they sell a house for more than it is worth. I would love to live in a world in which someone counters my negotiation offers as saying “sir you are paying too much. Let me counter propose at a lower value”.

Ex IPG boss got paid. Good on him for being smart enough to know how dirty politics in pg seem to be and negotiating effectively.

The blame and anger is misdirected. Look at the people that forced him out and why they did it.

Jim13135 wrote:

“Severance packages are meant to carry a person over until they have a new position in place”

And you get this fictitious vew from where?

Let us just work this out another way. If that is what they are meant to do, what would happen to a 55 year old, let us say, who got laid off and the norm of middle management, non-union, is used as an example. Let us say the individual was in the position for 5 years, and previous to that he was in a technical union position in the company for 25 years.

The individual has a 30 year employment record. Slight problem though. He is now out of the union and has lost all his union rights. So he is by common practice going to get 5 months severance, one month for each year of service in his middle to upper management job.

If he finds a job tomorrow and start a mnth after leaving, does he have to pay back 4 months of severance? Of course not!

If he does not find a job for a year, does he get more severance? Of course not!

If he smelled something was up a few months before he was shown out the door and starting asking around, is he still entitled to his severance if he did not quit? Of course he is. It is not his fault he was let go.

Now, let us take all that to the top person, the CEO. CEOs typically have one level better security when it comes to severance. How it works is pre-negotiated in a contract because they are more likely to be replaced than anyone else. They may do the best job in the world, but if the company wants a differnt person, they get a different person. And they pay to get that differnt person. That is why the Board said “have we got a deal”. We negotiated a buy out of the rest of his contract at the beginning of the contract for 6 months. He had 28 months left. We made an error of renewing a contract for 36 months a year ago when we did not realize that people might want to repatriate IPG to the City after some 20+ years of doing what most other communities have done and had an at arms length corporation.

So, we got a great deal. We had a great contract. Let us pat ourselves on the back.

So, compared to the airport manager and the past president of UNBC, McEwan did not get such a sweetheart deal.

And I really do not care whether you agree with this, but I do wish that the Mayor would understand employment contract law a bit better and quit dragging McEwan’s name through the mud. She is playing with fire, in my opinion, but Tim McEwan is too nice a guy to fire back the way he could.

“Severance packages are meant to carry a person over until they have a new position in place…they are not meant to be a windfall win like a lottery. Shame on the professional that fleeces his employers like this…shame shame shame. Accepting such a generous severance package when it wasn’t needed sure shows the character of the so called professional…shame shame shame”

He’s entitled to his entitlements. This works for everybody, not just executives like McEwan. By your logic, the workers from say, Winton Gloabl, who found work before the official closure shouldn’t be entitled to their rightful severance?

Of course gus has to come along and say it much better than I did. :)

One is quickly led to believe that some of the bloggers here are advisers to Mayor Green.
Let’s try and put it in the simplest of terms so the advisers can advise.
You have a mortgage contract for 20 years. The account is paid right up.
Suddenly the bank comes along and says we are taking your home, because they are going in a different direction.
You say but wait I have a contract I am up to date, then pay me for my equity in the home.
They say okay here’s our offer, and then would you say that’s too much, I’ll give you some back, which is what our Mayor suggests along with some of you bloggers.
Meantime you have had to look for a new home in spite of the fact that you have a contract and liked living there.
Or does the bank just have to give you the payments until you get a new home and to hell with the contract.

Common sense is not one of our new Mayors strengths, nor is it of her advisers

It’s immoral, you bloggers can justify it all you want…him accepting that much in a severance package knowing full well he would be terminating his position shortly speaks volumes about his integrity. IMHO

Integrity, look it up if you have difficulty understanding it.

Well Jim, the utopia you seek will not be found anywhere on this planet.

But …. read a few more reports. When people speak to reporters, there is the scrum where everyoen can listen in. The sometimes individual reporters can get some other words from the spokesperson.

If you were to read all the media youy might get a better picture.

The other thing about this is that not everyone understands some of the politics behind what is said with some very couched words when high level people – CEOs, Board chairs, mayors, MLAs, etc. are involved in organizational change.

In this instance, and in most instances, the CEO in such cases is low person on the totem pole. The CEO has become expendable. That is one reason why “prenuptual” agreements are in place which were agreed to at a time when everyone is not in the heat of battle. The potential employer has the option of not hiring and the potential employee has the option of not accepting at a time when both parties are on relatively equal footing.

So, open your mind and get rid of your notion of “if only I had such a deal” and then read or re-read the Free Press article linked here
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/142100513.html

From that article, for those who do not like to follow links.

——————————————-
Initiatives Prince George CEO Tim McEwan LEFT THE ORGANIZATION AT THE BOARD’S REQUEST because it was looking for a change of direction in leadership style, according to the board’s vice-president, Mark Feldinger.
When McEwan announced his departure Jan. 30, the release said he was leaving to pursue new and exciting opportunities, however the board approached him Jan. 13 and informed him of its plans.
THE AGREEMENT INCLUDES CLAUSES PROMISING NEITHER MCEWAN NOR THE BOARD WILL DISPARAGE THE OTHER BUT SPEAK POSITIVELY IN KEEPING WITH AGREED UPON ‘TALKING POINTS’.
BOTH PARTIES AGREED TO MAINTAIN FULL CONFIDENTIALITY REGARDING THE TERMS OF WHAT IS BEING REFERRED TO AS A NEGOTIATED DEPARTURE AGREEMENT.
——————————
The reporter then writes: “McEwan left IPG, a publicly-funded company, and became associate deputy minister for Major Investments, another publicly-funded company, effectively taking over one job while enjoying the fruits of a departure agreement from the other.”

That is a loaded statement from someone who does not have the faintest clue of contract law. He is, in effect dragging the people involved though the mud while those involved have signed an agreement that they will not discuss the matter in a disparaging way. So, the reporter is effectively knocking up people who have been tied down and cannot fight back. I consider that to be despicable and unprofessional behavior.

Well Capt. Maybe if more people spoke out these outrageous golden handshakes wouldn’t seem acceptable to so many.

Jim13135

I know exactly what integrity means. You do not have a clue what expenses and even emotional stress a person goes through at that time.

Integrity also means honouring a contract.

“THE AGREEMENT INCLUDES CLAUSES PROMISING NEITHER MCEWAN NOR THE BOARD WILL DISPARAGE THE OTHER BUT SPEAK POSITIVELY IN KEEPING WITH AGREED UPON ‘TALKING POINTS’.”

THAT is also part of integrity. It is BOTH parties that agreed to that. Why? Because they both could drag each other through the mud, but, as people will typically do in such situations, neither will.

Gus- it must be a lot of stress leaving a good job for a better one, and getting $100k+ in bonuses for moving! I read once that over 30% of PG families live in poverty, I wonder how many of them feel sorry for him?

But don’t you see….we got a GOOD deal according to those who run in his circle. He is no longer suckling at the municipal trough, he is now suckling at the provincial trough. Next I suppose he will be suckling at the federal trough.

Thats ok…there is a continuing gap between poverty and those who suck them dry and it is only a matter of time before even Canadians get tired of it.

Jim, I wish people would be honourable and look out for those less fortunate as well.

Sadly, I have recognized and accepted that is my wish and not realistic in these times. I will not begrudge intelligent, skilled, capable people like Mr. McEwen for being able to ascend to positions that are deemed significantly more important to “society” than others. With his skill set come other perks that are associated with the position. If it is so troubling, perhaps the shift should be towards those who made decisions on the appropriateness of compensation. That leads right back to our politicians and city administrations with no doubt despite IPG arms length status.

I don’t fault Tim at all because he is complying with standard practice for the position he was in.

The ethical discussion is one that should be entertained by all universities and businesses the world over.

According to the free press there was a contract in place where Tim could be terminated without cause and the penalty was 6 months pay. What was there to negotiate if the IPG board wanted him gone? They just sweetened the pot with moving expenses and a bonus.
Don’t blame Tim, blame the IPG board for being a little to free with the taxpayers money. Who amoung us would turn down the deal?

The ethical discussion is one that should START with those who are stars in the sports and film entertainment world …. Mind you, some have already started that, often because their publicists and agents have told them they need to to keep their fans.

Someone earning a lousy $170,000 per year needs to earn it and cannot afford going to Darfur and chasing Hurricanes and their destructive behaviour or care for endangered animals that eat 20 pound of meat a day.

Gus, I have no problem with you defending the terms of Tim McEwan’s contract or the severance, as he was legally entitled to every cent. But please don’t defend his integrity. The guy seemed to repeatedly assume credit for anything remotely positive in the north, regardless of how little IPG had to do with it…yet he refused to acknowledge failure for any gaffes like Horizon Air or the runway expansion, for which IPG had specific input. That’s not integrity.

Speaking of no integrity, when I sent then-mayor Dan Rogers an e-mail 3 years ago asking–as a concerned taxpayer–that IPG’s contract not be renewed, Dan (who cowardly didn’t have the courage to respond to me himself) simply forwarded my e-mail on to McEwan. McEwan used that e-mail to contact my employer and tried to persuade my bosses into censoring me from further critical letters to the editor or Op250 posts. He was unsuccessful of course, as my employer recognized my right to free speech as an individual, but talk about using your position inappropriately to muzzle opposition.

That’s a real class act, Gus. Good on Shari for recognizing that the emperor had no clothes.

Jim13135 wrote: “it must be a lot of stress leaving a good job for a better one”

Better how?

Live in a more expensive City? Commute for 30 to 60 minutes each way every day? At what salary?

I understrand that an assistant deputy minister in BC earns on average $157,608 per year as reeported when they got their last pay raises. In addition, money is withheld – $16,000 in the case of assistant deputy ministers
– if performance measures are not met.

So, in essence, if he earned the average, and it would be rare to earn more than that for someone starting in the position, he would get paid roughly $142,000 with a potential bonus of $16,000.

I think he was making $170,000 here plus a potential bonus of $15,000 and if everything had continued to go as was, they were looking at a potential pay increase.

So, unless you have some other information about the improved compensation package he is going to, I will have to use what is available to me without asking McEwan directly regarding a private matter.

You really do not have a clue about such matters, do you?

Maybe it would be a public service if people were made aware about how people are compensated in the privatre sector and the public sector at various levels.

@Gus,

I have learned so much from reading posts by you in the last two or so years on this site, in addition to the links you provide etc.

At times I may disagree with your position or stance, but I want you to know I truly appreciate your efforts.

“Maybe it would be a public service if people were made aware about how people are compensated in the privatre sector and the public sector at various levels”

Much like the potential existence of alien life, I’m not sure if the general population is ready to come to terms with those types of truths, LOL :)

ExPat-PGRes wrote:

” … when I sent then-mayor Dan Rogers an e-mail 3 years ago asking–as a concerned taxpayer–that IPG’s contract not be renewed, Dan (who cowardly didn’t have the courage to respond to me himself) simply forwarded my e-mail on to McEwan.”

When sending letters to try to effect change, it is always important to send it to the right individual and to keep a diplomatic tone about it.

I can’t speak about the content of the letter, but I can tell you about who it should have been sent to in order for it to get into the right hands. McEwan was certainly not the one whose hands it should have been sent to.

If you had known who Tim McEwan’s boss was yuy would have sent it to the Chair of IPG and addressed it as PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAl.

The mayor of the City, as people are maybe now starting to find out, is not the IPG CEO’s boss and should not enter into that forum. Dan ROgers did the right thing in passing it on to the appropriate organization.

Do you knof for sure that it was passed on addressed to Tim McEwan? It may have been addressed to the Chair of the IPG Board. Depending on the wording of the content of the letter, he may have shared it with McEwan.

There are other ways that this might have transpired. Are you 100% certain that it was routed in that fashion?

Anyway, there are so many stories on here that really cannot be confirmed provided by people we do not know.

Essentially this is all gossip, including my part in it and we all think we are right.

It is not what is called due process. It is no more than a public lynching and we have people as high as the current mayor involved in it which I really think is unwarranted.

So, none of us are good at cutting the gossip, are we?

Thank you Captain America.

I actually learn a lot myself in those cases where I thought I had a general idea where it should head, but did not have the details. And yes, sometimes it was a figment of my imagination and I proved myself wrong.

I don’t like debates when someone does not have at least a bit of truth in their opinion.

And yes, more often or not the truths are not self evident but are merely different points of view which is what we all bring to this table … different points of view which should all be able to be given a rational backgrounder.

Hello Gus,

Actually it was sent to both Rogers and Stoltz, and those WERE the correct individuals. THe point of the letter was that it is Council which votes on renewing IPG’s contract, and I suggested that the entity did not bring enough value to the city at taxpayer’s expense to warrant voting for another contract. To his credit, at least Stolz did not forward the letter but rather replied responsibly that he would seek an independent assessment as to whether or not IPG brought value to taxpayers before voting to renew another 3-year term. So I respectfully disagree that it would have been more appropriate to send it to the IPG Chair.

I do know for certain that the e-mail was passed directly from Dan Rogers to Tim McEwan because it remains right there in the chain of the e-mail that got back to me and which I’ve saved. I wouldn’t post such a suggestion on a public forum if I didn’t have irrefutable proof of the chain of events from the Mayor’s office to Tim McEwan’s petty actions afterwards.

Anyway, water under the bridge now as neither McEwan nor myself are with those employers any more…but suffice to say I am not sad to see him go. I maintain he lost all credibility with me after pulling that stunt.

I do agree with Captain America that while your posts are sometimes too numerous or verbose for me to keep up with here…your relatively neutral and level-headed stance on most subjects is appreciated…as is your research. Keep up the good work.

Gus–you really don’t understand that money isn’t the only way to quantify the quality of a position do you?? Tim will be smelling the flowers in February while we deep freeze up here, the paltry difference in his salary will be more than made up for! ;-)

The issue isn’t about the Mayor wanting McEwan to return his paycheque. If Green wanted McEwan to return his paycheque she would have asked him with a nice letter or a phone call. No, she wants to do as much damage to McEwan as possible–she’s running him through the media. She doesn’t want him to return the paycheque, she wants blood.

McEwan wouldn’t support the 30 tax breaks for Commonwealth and Green saw red. She’s mad, and she doesn’t forgive. It’s not enough that she had him fired, she wants to get even.

The ‘morale’ of the story is that if you don’t support what Commonwealth wants, the Mayor is going to get even.

Seems to me that we paid a huge salary to McEwan to promote business in Pr George, and to show what a great place it is.

Once his job was gone, he was gone also. Hmmmmmmm. Seems he didnt try and find another job in Prince George, and stay here, because its such a great place to live. Hmmmmmmmm.

Once upon a time you got payed for working,not for moving or leaving, I see people spending money freely when it isn,t theirs.If you want to get things done get volunteers that have a stake in the results

ExPat-PGRes ….. thanks for the note. Much appreciated and understood for all aspects covered in it.

As you say, it is water under the bridge on this one ….. but the river is still flowing and more water is heading for that bridge … ;-)

http://www.opinion250.com/blog/view/7441

That’s the link to the article on Opinion250 when Gerry Offet left.

Palopu, as Feldinger stated, McEwan was hired as a transitional CEO after Offet left. There was no intention of McEwan staying much longer than the 3 years. However, both the Board and McEwan obviously decided that another 3 years would work out for both. It appears that the 6 month notice may even have been put into the contract because at that time it was election year and one never knows what could happen especially since there was already some thought that the City might wish to repatriate IPG to the City’s administration.

Actually, I understand that Tim McEwan grew to like PG. He probably found it a challenge to try to work wonders here because basically that is what is needed, a miracle.

The miracle, however, as far as I am concerned would be for all these organizations to work together. It is a tough enough job as it is, without having people left out of the loop and not doing their part.

Do I need to list all the things this City does that are pulling in the wrong direction – roads, sprawl, air quality, shoddy roadside maintenance, lousy snow clearing, micromanaging Council, games we cannot afford, etc. favouritism to lazy developers, letting a true City Legacy (PGGCC) go to waste, MyPG studies that bring no value, OCPs that never get done when they should be and never get followed in any case, SMART Growth that was a waste of provincial money on a community that is not ready for such an event, DBIA that has accomplished nothing or 12+ years, a downtown partnership Kaffeeklatsch ……

If it were not for provincial funds that developed UNBC, hospital improvements, medical program, Cancer Clinic, CNC trades building, etc. we really would not have much man-made infrastructure to serve this City better.

Anyone heading up IPG would have the same problem. Well, almost anyone. ;-)

ooops, forgot twinning of two bridges and 4 laning provincial highways, and, of course, the senior governmetns are providing money for Boundary Rd. to improve the Yellowhead route connection.

gus, I don’t think there’s any debate that the City wastes money and resources in a multitude of ways.

Similarly, I don’t think there’s anything technically illegal with the sweetheart deal McEwan got to pack his bags. And yes, it was a golden handshake, no matter how you slice it. They happen all the time for people in those kinds of positions, but it doesn’t make it right, IMO.

From the stuff Gus posted about an agreement not ‘to disparage’ each other maybe it’s more like HUSH money than a golden handshake?? Shame shame shame taking advantage of taxpayers