Moncton announces resignation of city manager Jacques Dubé
Moncton city manager Jacques Dubé has resigned, the city announced on Tuesday.
"He has accepted an executive opportunity with another progressive organization," according to a statement.
His last day on the job is Aug. 23, it states.
City council will appoint an interim city manager in the coming days and will begin a national search for a successor immediately, the city said.
"Jacques has been a true leader for our community," Mayor Dawn Arnold said in the statement.
"He managed the events file following the loss of Ian Fowler, he managed the city through difficult financial times, he implemented our new corporate approach to performance excellence and he was instrumental in ensuring that the Downtown Centre project became a reality," she said.
'Great' city
Dubé, who has served as city manager since August 2009, was planning to leave last year.
He told council and senior managers in April 2015 that he planned to step down by the end of the year and put up a For Sale sign in front of his home.
In December 2014, then-city councillor Daniel Bourgeois had suggested eliminating the city manager's position as a way to save $200,000 on the budget.
Bourgeois subsequently withdrew the motion and then-mayor George LeBlanc apologized to Dubé, and expressed confidence in him as city manager.
In the city-issued statement on Tuesday, Dubé said he has "thoroughly enjoyed" his time in the post. He thanked the current and past councils for their support and said he felt "truly privileged and honoured" to work alongside the city's "dedicated and professional" employees.
"I cannot say enough about how great the City of Moncton has become and all that it's accomplished over the years," he said.
"Moncton is one of Canada's fastest growing cities, one that attracts new residents from around the globe and has a very diverse and vibrant economy. There's something special here and I'm glad to have been a part of it."
When he was hired seven years ago, Dubé said he planned to spend three to five years as city manager.
Before moving to Moncton he served as a deputy minister in Bernard Lord's government and as chief of staff in Ottawa to Greg Thompson, who was the regional minister for New Brunswick in Stephen Harper's government.
