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Interim county CAO unveiled

An administrator with more than 40 years experience is Westlock County’s new interim manager. Pat Vincent will serve until the county up a maximum term of three months so the municipality can hire a permanent CAO.
Westlock County council has hired Pat Vincent as the municipality’s interim CAO. Vincent’s first day was July 12 and he will serve until a permanent CAO can be found.
Westlock County council has hired Pat Vincent as the municipality’s interim CAO. Vincent’s first day was July 12 and he will serve until a permanent CAO can be found.

An administrator with more than 40 years experience is Westlock County’s new interim manager.

Pat Vincent will serve until the county up a maximum term of three months so the municipality can hire a permanent CAO.

He was officially hired at council’s July 12 meeting, one that had more than 40 residents in attendance and some calling for reeve Bud Massey’s resignation.

“I feel it’s a baptism by fire,” Vincent said.

“I do try to have a sense of humour … that’s not to underscore the seriousness of some of the issues that have been discussed this morning.”

Vincent joins the county at the advice of outgoing CAO Duane Coleman, who left for Leduc County at the end of June after a three-month stint.

“When he was leaving, he suggested we consider Pat as a temporary replacement,” Massey said.

“I talked to several people and Pat has a very good reputation.”

Vincent has 42 years experience in the role with stints in Parkland County, the Town of Beaumont and Slave Lake.

Since retiring after nearly eight years at Parkland County, Vincent started a consulting firm, P Vincent Consulting, and takes on interim contracts.

“This is what I love doing, coming in and pinch hitting for a short period of time,” he said.

“I just saw it as an opportunity. I didn’t want anything too long past the end of September so I can make plans to go south in the winter.”

Among his contracts was a six-and-a-half month stint at Thorhild County from September 2015 until March.

Vincent’s tenure came less than a month after the delivery of the Thorhild County Municipal Inspection Final Report, a document commissioned by Alberta Municipal Affairs following a municipal inspection.

With Westlock County about to enter into that process, Vincent said he would use his knowledge to help guide council and prepare.

“I certainly have that particular experience,” Vincent said.

“I think the advice I can provide to council is to be prepared for their meetings with whoever is appointed by the (minister of Municipal Affairs) to do that particular inspection.”

At the meeting, Vincent promised transparency.

“I bring a professional approach … open, honest and frank,” he said.

“My door and my phone are there for residents at any time to contact myself with any issues and concerns.”

Details of Vincent’s contract haven’t yet been made public, but the new CAO said he has waived a privacy clause and will post the contract to the county’s website once final details are signed off on by council.

According to his contract with Thorhild County posted on the municipality’s website, Vincent earned $21,100 monthly.

Vincent is the fifth CAO, and second on an interim basis, to work for the county since the current council was elected in 2013.

Longtime CAO Ed LeBlanc resigned after 29 years with the county in April 2014, Rick McDonald took over as interim manager until Peter Kelly was hired, followed by Duane Coleman’s tenure.

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