Recreation, parks, facilities director job eliminated

Barry Lavers, the director of recreation, parks and facilities in Wellington North is “no longer with the township” according to a Oct. 30 release.

In an interview with the Advertiser, CAO Mike Givens said the job had been eliminated through a restructuring.

“What we’re actually going to do is bring the director of recreation and director of public works together into one, a director of operations to oversee the activities of recreation, water, sewer, and the roads department,” said Givens.

“We’re going to bring those under one umbrella.”

Derek McCaughan, who was serving as an interim public works director, finished his contract with the township on Oct. 31. Givens said the new role - director of operations - will encompass pubic works and recreation.

“It’s more of a strategic piece and more of a position that’s going to fulfill council’s directives as it relates to policy strategies within those different department,” said Givens.

The posting for the new position is expected in the next few weeks.

Until then, Givens will oversee the current facility managers. He will also make sure the current recreation master plan goes ahead as scheduled.

“We’re not planning to defer, we want to keep pushing through, we think it is extremely important in establishing the direction of the recreation within our community,” he said.

Lavers was with the township since 2012.