MUSKOKA – Another District of Muskoka senior staff member is about to punch out.
Distric chair John Klinck confirmed on Monday that Margaret French, commissioner of planning and economic development, has announced her intention to retire in May.
“There’s good news and bad news,” said Klinck. “We certainly hate to lose Margaret, she’s one of those file drawers with all that corporate information that will go out the door with her. But I guess the good news is we have some wonderful people inside the building that would certainly be capable of tossing their name in the ring.”
The district has announced a string of senior manager retirements over the last six months. French’s announcement follows that of district solicitor David Royston, commissioner of finance and corporate services Stephen Cairns and chief administrative officer Jim Green.
Klinck said these high-level, long-term staff members have been with the district for decades and will be missed.
He noted that the wave of retirements seems to be for personal reasons and not for political ones.
Once the four retirements are finalized, two existing commissioners will be left standing. But Klinck said Rick Williams, commissioner of community services, and Tony White, commissioner of engineering and public works, have indicated that they have no immediate intention to leave to the organization.
“It’s one of those stages of life in the corporation,” said Klinck of the retirements.
He said council was made aware at the beginning of its term that the staff members who have given their notice were in a position to retire. And he previously noted that this is the most convenient time for senior staff to retire because their decisions to leave would not saddle a new council with the task of hiring new senior managers right off the bat.
Royston and French will retire in May, followed by Cairns in June and Green in July.