Director of Operations Doug Allin. (PeachlandNews.com file photo)
by Dave Preston
The District of Peachland is losing its director of operations.
Doug Allin confirmed today that he has accepted a job as chief administrative officer for Grand Forks.
Allin was first hired by the municipality as a water mechanic. He was promoted to director of operations in January, 2008.
“Personally, it’s a tough decision,” said Allin. “Professionally, it’s a good step.”
Allin said he has built up a lot of relationships with people, both personally and professionally, during his time in Peachland.
“I will be leaving at the end of September,” Allin said.
In the next two months, the goal for Allin will be to make sure there is a smooth transition to the next director of operations.
Allin said there are a lot of projects on the go in Peachland and it will be difficult to leave some of them, including an upcoming study that will look into the possibility of constructing a pipeline from Peachland Lake that will provide the town drinking water and possibly be used to generate electricity.
Peachland’s new director of operations will be fortunate to inherit a team that is very knowledgeable about the town and operations, according to Allin.
- Excited
- Informed
- Amused
- Bored
- Sad
- Angry
The remarks we see here is usual stuff. When one leaves or to move to a better job there always seem to be derogitory remarks. Either you know some-one, etc.. That is why all my working life I Never mixed socially with my senior members of the Companies I worked for. I never called them by their first names. Old fashioned. Yes. If those you manage hate your guts. That was OK. You can get a lot of critism from staff, that is usual, but you have to weigh the problems and act accordingly and take the critism. Not all staff are angels. Public included. As for Mba’s being a suggested requirement, the situation requires perhaps a Professional Civil Engineer or Bsc. Engineering. Then one has to consider hiring Certified Engineering Technicians as the employed Engineer expects to have ‘Gophers’. to do their bidding. That is life today and eventually higher taxes. Gone are the days when Engineers got themselves dirty and climbed into a pair of cover-alls. As mentioned earlier, Allin is no fool in spite of critics.
…..well said Mick Read
…..just a brief note. Doug told me that he was tired of all the personal shots he was taking from some of uninformed citizens of Peachland who have nothing better to do than to makes ones life miserable…sounds about right. I hope the minority who I am referring too are happy with the result….good on you…
Well Ernie… If you are referring to most who work under him, most who have issues with him, the small “minority” including many business owners, people who have sewer issues, many who think he should never have had to hire out as much services as he did because he should have known what was happening when he started then I think the “minority” just turned out to be very significant. You were incorrect again saying that this was a personal thing. Strictly professional. May have gotten your political career crossed with this issue. NASA to Ernie… come in. Don’t be fooled .He’s not getting a drop in wages. Just let him leave on a good note and don’t start propaganda. I don’t think Grand Forks wants to see this stuff. This is a can of worms no one wants to see opened up (now that he is leaving).
Is there a chance that Peachland might be able to recruit somebody from Urban Systems to become Ops Manager for the 6 figures plus benefits currently budgeted?
It seems that all the serious questions, planning and estimates are provided by Urban Systems.
The consultants that are billed out at hundreds of dollars/hr actually receive only a small portion of that in their pay packet.
In a well manage local government the District staff would have the skills and certification to deal with 90% of the issues and consultants would only be brought in on very rare occasions for specific difficult problems.
Here’s what they’re looking for:
http://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/161.asp?jobpostingid=17010
Thanks Dave
I would guess from this recent posting that Mr. Allin was either a professional Engineer or had or graduated from a technical school with years of on job training.
These are significant qualifications that seem to be in keeping with the post of the Director of Operations.
CAO seems would require a significantly different skill set.
From the same site the qualification for a CAO seem a lot more nebulous — From the posting for Princeton CAO: “with a combination of education and experience in providing effective customer service in a small to medium sized municipality or business”
can mean anyone they like.
From my back ground in the private sector the Directors of Engineering or Technical streams were never ever promoted to general management. They would have to earn and accounting designation and/or certification or a MBA.
Perhaps that is why District governments get into such difficulties and problems.
I would think that that the provincial government would set minimum certification and educational requirements to protect Districts and councils from making staffing mistakes.
The local government management seems to operate as a closed union shop.
Before many of you get carried away and pulling people apart. Before many of you were born it was it was the order of the day to start as apprentices in various trades that would progress into skilled tradesmen, many later went to Technical Colleges and later became Professional Engineers. These people were in demand. Then a few years back there was the University craze. University first and then expecting employment in a high wage bracket with NO Experience in the field. Bsc or Mba have nothing to do with it. In the case we are writing about the individual continued his education. I admire him for that and you can bet his future employer saw something that other hopefulls did not shew. Good luck Doug………Mick Read.
You’re right Mick, Doug was a “good” talker. From what I can remember, he was the only one who applied… Many are stuck with the old days.Times are different now. There are too many people with actual technical knowledge and expertise to end up paying 6 figure incomes only to just hire out what should have been known to begin with. That would be like giving a driver’s licence to a blind person. There were many people who were hired out (with education) to give advice to that department. We don’t expect that from the council because they only get next to nothing. Our management should have the full spectrum of their job in accordance with their wage. The trial and error days are over for this town. Think about it for a minute or two. I hope Grand Forks fares well.
You are right Anon. Too many people stuck in the old days. The days are long gone when you joined a company sweeping floors and progressing up the ladder. today one has to equip ones-self with the latest technology to survive. That means taking courses in your field. In my lifetime it was necessary to hold your job. I have experienced many of todays Tech students expect to earn high wages inspite of no experience. Colleges mislead them into thinking jobs are waiting. In fact that is how the Apprentice schemes disappeared, the high wages expected. When I started I earned hardley enough to buy shoes. Indentured for five years, then fired. If you were good you were taken back. Today people expect more. Times you mention are different now. At Forty and fifty years old , I attended technical colleges to keep up to date. That is why I admire Doug Allin he did not sit around on his back-side. He was worth his promotion and income and now his new job.
I trust Dave does not accuse me of going off the subject.
oh my! Good luck Grand Forks
Myself and so many others are very sad to see such a talented individual go. It’s amazing that in this day and age, one can go from water repair labor one day, to big boss the next without any qualifications. Good… luck Doug.
Dave- why would you make a comment like that? The time that “Doug” has been here has been interesting to say the least.
We should have one of those comedy roasts where everyone comes and takes stabs at one another. I’d pay $20.
Maybe the old boys will come out of retirement now. Maybe… one of them could show how the job should be done. Vic, Fred, Terry…One of you guys should step up to the plate and put a smile on everyone.
And Dave- I hope this is not a July fools gag. Was telling some in the neighborhood and the drinks are already flowin’ in celebration.
…OMG…Do you live on the moon? I really like those guys especially Terry but they would not be my choice for DOO…
I take it when you show up at the comedy roast you’ll have a tag with your real name on your chest.
There is a limit to what I will accept from anonymous (no pun intended) posters.
I am very sorry to see Doug Allin depart, He was knowledgeable in his profession. And had sound ideas regarding the Peachland water-shed of the future. I certainly wish him all the best in his quest. He is energetic and always looking ahead. Nothing was impossible….
What are the qualifications required to be a CAO? an Operations director?
It would seem that either Mr. Allin was over-qualified (or at least had different qualifications) as a water Mechanic and has taken training and gotten certified somehow as a operations director and then as a CAO.
You would think that an MBA would be the minimum requirement to be a CAO.
Not commenting on Mr. Allin’s ability to do the job, but part of any public service management structure and is very rigid qualifications and certification.
…voice..we had a planner a few years ago Chris….who decided he wanted to be our CAO…we selected him over our current CAO…unfortunately he left for greener pastures in Windemere..I doubt whether Doug was the only applicant. I am sure they saw in Doug…youth(relatively speaking), enthusiasm,charisma and desire. Our loss is their gain..
Happy for the Allin’s in their journey but a little sad to be losing such a great family in Peachland. Good luck!
Note to all: Any comments containing personal attacks of any kind will be deleted.