Tim Palmer says he has left Revelstoke with a strong legacy that will allow for growth going forward.
Palmer showed up in Revelstoke on Friday, hours after the city announced his retirement as Chief Administrative Officer.
His appearance was unexpected given the mysteries that have surrounded his situation since he left city hall three weeks ago.
“I’ve had a few irons in the fire, I’ve been checking things out, so there’s been a little suspense for the last couple weeks,” he told me in an interview in my office.
Palmer said he’s retiring happily and willingly and the move is not being forced. He avoided a question asking if he was receiving a buy out or settlement from the city to leave the post he’s held since 2011.
Palmer appears to be taking advantage of the election of a new mayor and council to leave his post. The Alan Mason affair did not play into his decision.
“The people have spoken with the council and they’re looking at a change,” he said. “This affords an opportunity for them to see where they want to go in the future.”
Palmer, 55, intends on staying in Revelstoke with his wife Jacqui, and serving as a consultant for local governments.
“Retirement for me doesn’t mean stop doing things,” he said. “It means there’s new opportunities. I’ve been approached by others already and I’m looking forward to it.”
He touted the restructuring of city hall and moves towards fiscal prudence as his biggest accomplishments with the city.
“We’ve made huge headway is reducing debt, addressing reserves, making sure our expenses are brought in line,” he said, adding that former mayor David Raven deserves credit there. The fiscal changes, which included no new borrowing last year, will benefit the city going forward, he said.
He also cited the restructuring of city hall, including the merging of the planning and engineering departments, as a major achievement.
“It came with controversy but it was needed in order to bring an organization that was fiscally responsible and provided good service,” he said. “The key part is the employees we have are dedicated to providing good service in an efficient manner.”
Palmer countered criticism of the delayed city hall renovations by saying the decision to stop work was necessary. At the time, he said the move was a result of lost revenue from successful assessment appeals by Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
“Your statements don’t fully reflect the reality there,” he said. “Maybe in hindsight we would have just got it done and found the money in other sources or borrowed.”
He feels positive about the future of the community and is looking forward to watching as the new mayor and council move forward.
“I’ve built an organization I feel very proud of leaving, knowing the expertise for the community will continue to be there,” he said. “I see a legacy that will continue on into the future.”
