George Paul Thanks Council

By 250 News

George Paul  thanks Council for their support over the past 17 years (photo, Opinion250 staff)

He  has served in the  office of City Manager for 17 years, longer than anyone else in the  history of Prince George.  December 18th was his final Council meeting.

For most of the meeting, the Council Chamber was full. Residents had come to the session to  speak out on two issues,  the public hearing  on a rezoning application, and the air quality- asphalt plant report.  At times, there was standing room only.

But when the issues had been dealt with most of the residents had left.  Besides Council members and City Staff, there  were fewer than 5 people in the gallery.

Among the five, former Councilors Bob and Anne Martin who had stayed through the  full meeting to  say goodbye to the City Manager. 

Here is George Paul’s thank you:

"I just want to say it has been a pleasure and certainly an honour to be City Manager for Prince George over the last 17 years.  It’s a responsibility that I have tried as much as possible to exercise to the best of my ability.  I have extremely enjoyed working with the Council members in Prince George. I have found them extremely committed, concerned about their community and while  there is no job description for Council members or Mayors’, there is a lot of  different approaches taken for carrying out their responsibilities,  I really respect the way that Councilors are committed to the Community and trying to  improve the quality of life in Prince George.

With respect to the Staff, I can only say they are the ultimate professionals capable in carryng out their duties and  extremely  innovative, as they have to be in Prince George, because we’re generally more isolated than most communities of our size.  It is that innovation and creativity that, allow this  community to prosper and  I  appreciate all the support  from Staff I have received over the years to be able to carry out my responsibilities ina reasonable manner.

The community of Prince George has been great for me professionally.  It has given me wonderful opportunities for growth.  While I never envisioned I would be in the position of City Manager for 17 years, the longest serving City Manager that Prince George has had,  the only thing that stayed the same for me is the job title.  The responsibilities that Council has given me, the opportunities and scope that Council  have given me have been tremendous.  They’ve  allowed me to, I feel , grow in my job and it has kept it interesting and exciting for me over the years.  

My family has enjoyed this community tremendously.  My daughters had cultural opportunities, athletic opportunities, academic opportunities that are without equal in many respects, in this province certainly.  They have prospered with those opportunities, and one of them has just recently returned to Prince George and is teaching at College Heights Secondary School so that is pretty exciting for her and for my wife Pat and I. 

All I can say Your Worship to wrap up is that, in my opinion, the City has been the perfect employer.  The best, certainly the best by far  that  I’ve ever had and the community has been a wonderful place to live that I have enjoyed tremendously and  I hope that I will be staying in touch with the, many many friends and associates I have met over my 17 years and enjoyed getting to know.

So, thank you all for your support and I really appreciate the confidence that you left with me over the past 17 years and I will value your friendship forever.

Thank you."

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