Burnaby city council has struck a new committee, to which four councillors and the mayor were appointed, to hire the next city manager.
Lambert Chu announced to city staff last month that he was planning to retire at the end of February 2021. The retirement will cap off “30 wonderful years” with the City of Burnaby, where he has served as the top staffer since 2016.
Prior to that, Chu had worked as the deputy city manager since 2012 and director of engineering since 2007, rising up in the ranks of the engineering department since his initial hire in 1990.
On the Monday, Dec. 7 council meeting, Mayor Mike Hurley presented a report to council suggesting the city establish a select committee that will look into finding a new city manager. That committee will ultimately submit its recommendations for council’s final approval.
Hurley recommended Coun. Sav Dhaliwal be the chair of the committee, with the mayor serving as vice-chair. Councillors Pietro Calendino, Joe Keithley and James Wang were all appointed as members of the committee.
Only two councillors were not named to the committee – Dan Johnston and Colleen Jordan, both of whom defected from the dominant Burnaby Citizens Association slate early this year. Both councillors are typically the only ones to bring dissenting opinions and votes in public council meetings.
Council voted unanimously and without comment to approve the committee appointments.
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