Smells like team spirit: ouster of Iqaluit CAO need not hurt morale, councillor says

Coun. Joanasie Akumalik encourages other city councillors on Tuesday, Feb. 27, to maintain their morale and team spirit in the wake of the departure of the City of Iqaluit’s chief administrative officer. (PHOTO BY BETH BROWN)

Following the abrupt departure of the City of Iqaluit’s most senior non-elected official, Coun. Joanasie Akumalik called on his fellow Iqaluit city council members yesterday not to lose sight of their overarching goals and to rally some team spirit.

“In the midst of uncertainty, we have survived,” Akumalik said in a statement.

“It has tested us as a team, as a city council.”

When asked after the meeting about what spurred his statement, Akumalik told Nunatsiaq News: “There was news about the former CAO being not with us any more. I felt that I needed to let the city know that we have to work as a team.”

Iqaluit residents learned Feb. 16 that city council decided not to renew the employment contract of Muhamud Hassan, who had served as chief administrative officer since April 7, 2015.

The city said recreation director Amy Elgersma will now serve as acting CAO.

In the pecking order of the city’s administration, the senior director of corporate services, the head finance position, is usually considered second-in-command.

The city confirmed earlier this month that John Mabberi-Mudonyi remains employed by the city as senior director of corporate services.

Mabberi-Mudonyi’s attendance at council meetings has been spotty for the past few months.

“The city does not discuss personnel issues,” a city spokesperson said when asked to explain Mabberi-Mudonyi’s absence.

When asked if operations are on track as the end of the fiscal year nears, the spokesperson said: “The city is currently conducting its annual review of the strategic plan to ensure priorities are on target.”

In his member’s statement, when acknowledging the day-to-day work of city staff, Akumalik said, “We rely on them. We don’t want them to have a workplace filled with fear.”

He also said he believed that burdens have increased lately for councillors, and he acknowledged that this added responsibility could at times be at the expense of family time and work-life balance.

But he encouraged council members to take heart.

“The future might seem unclear, but it always gets better,” Akumalik said.

He said that throughout its term the current council has continued to highlight transparency, community engagement, fiscal austerity and support for private sector projects.

He encouraged councillors to keep these efforts in mind.

“We have to be proud of ourselves, of our staff, of our team,” he said.