The Town of Huntsville is on the hunt for the replacement of two members of its senior management team.
Kari Lambe, director of community services, and Derrick Hammond, director of development services for the Town of Huntsville, have tendered their resignations and have accepted positions elsewhere.
Huntsville CAO Denise Corry told Huntsville Council at its Tuesday, April 23 meeting that she had been speaking with both individuals about their departure. She also said she’d be speaking with both chairs of the committees related to the departments impacted by the vacancies, “and putting a plan in motion for moving forward.”
In terms of replacing the positions, Corry said because the vacant positions are high-level positions within the organization, she had considered using a headhunter to fill them, but the cost is “extremely high.”
“That seems to be a very common practice of municipalities to utilize headhunters. It, I think, provides quite a vast array of potential opportunities for the municipality, but I also found out in investigating the cost associated with that is extremely high. What we’re looking at roughly is 20 to 30,000 dollars per position to go out for headhunting services,” she told council. She said the estimate was based on the experience of municipalities such as the District of Muskoka and Bracebridge, both of which have used headhunters in the past.
“So I have slightly paused that approach until I can have some further conversations with both chairs in that area as well as the Mayor and Deputy Mayor so that we can put a plan together moving forward,” said Corry.
She said that in the interim, she would work with both outgoing directors “and we’ll make sure that the areas are covered and where there are I guess areas that need to be covered by myself, then I will do that accordingly,” she told council. “So unless there’s any questions, we’re looking at replacement.”
Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison thanked director Lambe for seven years of service and wished her well. He said she was leaving the community for a position in Gananoque.
He also thanked director Hammond who has taken a position with the Township of Muskoka Lakes to become that municipality’s CAO. “I hardly knew you, you were here only a short time, and he’s a real ladder climber this guy,” quipped Aitchison, who wished Hammond well in his new position.
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Some of us part-time residents would love to contribute. Who knows, perhaps a job-sharing scheme would be possible 🙂
Two good suggestions already posted here, but a third is also not a bad idea – that is to ask the two former employees if they themselves have any recommended friends or associates they feel might be a good fit for the job. Using headhunters at that price is far too high a cost in my opinion.
Hello , try using the resources you have at hand , like your HR department and the internet before spending $60,000.00 on a head hunter.
Real-estate is sold daily using this method,for Millons. This is the first I have heard about these positions ,get it out there,advertise the position,let people know.
Those are 2 plum positions (sunshine list) in an obviously beautiful community. Before you entertain the thought of retaining a headhunter, Ms. Corry, please post both positions on LinkedIn. The response will be quite surprising.