Search for new city manager almost done

burnabynow.com
March 30, 2016
By Jeremy Deutsch

It’s not official yet, or much of a secret around city hall in Burnaby, but appears council has found a new top civil servant.

Mayor Derek Corrigan said council is in the final stages of making a decision for a new city manager, but confirmed the choice is Lambert Chu, the acting city manager and deputy city manager.

The mayor told the NOW the city is just in the middle of a contract negotiation before it can become official.

The city has been on a search for a new city manager since Bob Moncur retired at the end of February after 30 years with the city.

Corrigan previously stated the city would work quickly to find a replacement, likely from within, adding that the city had already been planning for succession.

On Tuesday, the mayor described the process as being more like a grooming, praising Chu for growing into the deputy city manager role from engineer over the last few years.

“He’s been in effect doing that job and has been showing leadership for a considerable period of time,” he said.

While Corrigan noted Chu’s experience as an engineer, he said the city wanted him to get experience looking after other areas in the municipality like police and fire, to become a well-rounded city manager.

He said Chu’s development has prepared him well for the job, adding that seeing him in the acting manager role has made it “obvious” he’s qualified for the position.

Chu’s permanent move to city manager will still need to be officially approved by council.

In a Q & A with the NOW before his retirement, Moncur, who served as the city manager for more than 20 years, said it will be important his successor keep the management team working closely together and keep open lines of communications.

“The word I rely on is balance, to try and keep a balance of working hard but playing hard. Keeping things in balance,” he said.

“You’ve got such good staff here in Burnaby, I’m a fairly big fan of wine, and often times wine making is to grow good grapes and not screw it up. And managing Burnaby is a little bit the same way, we’ve got good grapes, don’t screw it up.”

Exactly how much Chu will earn as the new city manager isn’t known, but according to the city’s most recent Statement of Financial Information, Moncur was the highest paid employee in 2014, taking home $255,471.