By Dominic Abassi

Senior manager at Nanaimo City Hall fired

Jan 11, 2018 | 3:51 PM

NANAIMO — A senior manager hand-picked for a newly created position at the City of Nanaimo has been fired.

The City confirmed chief operations officer Brad McRae is no longer employed.

“We are unable to provide further information as the City of Nanaimo is subject to privacy legislation under the terms of which it is not permitted to comment on personnel matters.”

McRae was on medical leave when chief administrative officer Tracy Samra recommended his termination late last year. His firing required a hearing and vote from Council because he was an officer of the City.

NanaimoNewsNOW can confirm that meeting took place in-camera on Wednesday, Jan. 10 and sources confirmed McRae’s termination was upheld, with cause, by a slim vote.

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Because the termination was with cause, it only required five votes to uphold Samra’s recommendation.

McRae was plucked from his role as chief administrative officer in Lantzville in September 2016 to fill a position created by Samra in one of numerous organizational restructurings. He was originally tasked with overseeing engineering and public works, fire, emergency management and facilities.

His roles and workloads changed multiple times during his tenure with the City.

“His past leadership in senior municipal positions, combined with his knowledge of administrative operations, policy development, regional issues and local interests, is of great value to Council and staff,” Samra said in a City release announcing McRae’s hiring.

McRae joins Kim Fowler as senior managers serving in roles created by Samra who are no longer with the City. Fowler left her role as chief sustainability officer in May of last year, after less than six months on the job.

McRae said he would not comment at this time.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi