Black Diamond's mayor of eight years is changing hats to assist with the day-to-day operations of the Town as its new chief administrative officer.
Black Diamond's mayor of eight years is changing hats to assist with the day-to-day operations of the Town as its new chief administrative officer.
Sharlene Brown resigned from her title of mayor on May 27 after being hired as the Town's new chief administrative officer (CAO), replacing Joanne Irwin who retired last month.
Brown begins her new duties on June 2.
“There will be a lot of transitions and I'm looking forward to that,” said Brown. “I'm really looking forward to working with council and being the conduit to be able to take council direction and implement the direction that they see fit.”
Brown was first elected to Black Diamond Town council in 1998.
Although she lost a bid for the mayor's seat in a close vote in 2007, she was elected mayor in a by-election the following year. Brown was re-elected in 2010 and acclaimed in 2013.
“From 1998 until now I have got a well-rounded idea around the policy portion, what it's like to be a councilor, what it's like to be a mayor, what it's like to show up to events, what it's like to deal with the emergency management side of things,” she said. “It gave me a good understanding of how the town operates, the goals, objectives, strategies and all of those pieces that come into play.”
Brown said she enters her new position having developed a strong working relationship with council, administration, staff and the town's regional partners.
“That piece of the transition and getting to know people, I've already got the basis for,” she said. “Now, it will be more hands-on, day-to-day activities working with staff and working with council implementing policy that will be new and exciting and I'm very much looking forward to it.”
With flood mitigation and restoration work now complete three years after flood waters tore through the community, Brown looks forward to new projects on the horizon.
“We are on the cutting edge of doing lots of things in the community and I'm pretty excited about that and being on that implementation side,” she said. “Council has adopted a growth management plan and they have applied for a grant for the feasibility of amalgamation study. It will now be in council's hands to provide the direction going forward and I will be on that implementation side.”
Black Diamond Town council will discuss the details surrounding the upcoming by-election for the mayor position at its June 1 regular meeting.
In the meantime, deputy mayor Ruth Goodwin will take on the role as mayor.
Verna Staples, the Town's legislative services manager, said the Municipal Government Act requires a by-election be held within 90 days of the mayor's resignation and nomination day 28 days prior to election day. Any Black Diamond resident who is a qualified voter and not in tax arrears can run, she added.
While Brown is excited about her new title as CAO, accepting the role and resigning as mayor is bitter-sweet.
“I'm very much going to miss the role of being mayor,” she said. “Leading community is a very important role and something I took very seriously.”
