Port board waiting to see if CEO agreement extended
ACOA, Sydney Ports Corp. shared cost of salary and benefits
It remains to be seen if the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency will continue to partially fund the salary and benefit package for the chief executive officer of the Port of Sydney Development Corp.
It was announced about three years ago that former Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. second-incommand Marlene Usher had landed a new job as CEO of what then known as the Sydney Ports Corp.
At the time, it was announced as a three-year interchange agreement, with the possibility for renewal. Usher is still officially an employee of ACOA.
In an email this week, ACOA spokesman Alex Smith would not say whether ACOA is considering renewing the agreement, calling it a personnel matter.
ACOA and the Sydney Ports Corp. shared the cost of Usher’s salary and benefits, which
amounted to about $200,000 per year, over a three-year renewable term.
Initially, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality covered half the cost from its CAO’s professional services account until the new port board was financially viable.
Port board chair Jerry Gillis said this week the port has paid the non-ACOA-funded portion of Usher’s package at least since the independent board came into effect last year.
Gillis said in an interview they are working with ACOA. He said there wasn’t much else that he is able to say at this point in time. He did say that the current arrangement expires Feb. 19.
“I can’t provide any details on that. All I can say is that negotiations are underway to extend her contract,” Gillis said. “I’m working very closely with ACOA to extend the contract and I hope to hear something in the next several weeks.”
Usher said it’s her hope that she will remain with the port corporation, calling it an active file, with growing cruise ship traffic, the construction of the second berth and also port development in general.
“That’s my desire, for sure,” Usher said, saying she enjoys her work. “It’s very fulfilling. It’s busy, and I like being busy.”
With the new port board, a focus is now on developing a strategic plan, she said.
Usher said she doesn’t focus on some of the critical attention the port discussion attracts, saying she doesn’t “get into the weeds,” adding that most people she deals with see the port as a key economic driver for the region.
Similar to a secondment, Usher’s placement with the port corporation was part of an interchange agreement, a practice among federal government employees that is written in Treasury Board policy.
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality created the executivelevel position to offer “strategic guidance” and enhance marketing efforts for future port development, former CBRM chief administrative officer Michael Merritt stated in an issue paper before council at the time.
Usher had continued in her role as an executive director general at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency following the federal government’s decision to dismantle ECBC.
On its website, Interchange Canada notes that it facilitates temporary assignments of individuals in and out of public administration to do things such as ensure transfer of knowledge and expertise and improve networks between public administration and other business sectors. Assignments can be fullor part-time, and can last up to three consecutive years.