VIRTUAL NATIONAL WEBINAR FOR CAMA MEMBERS

Navigating Employment Agreements and Employment Law Updates with Don Lidstone, K.C.

Join Us for a FREE CAMA Webinar: Navigating Employment Agreements and Employment Law Updates.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. EST and get ready to dive into the latest legal updates and expert advice on employment agreements with Don Lidstone, K.C. In this virtual session, hosted by CAMA and Lidstone & Company, Don will provide invaluable insights for municipal administrators navigating the complexities of employment law.

Don’t miss this chance to learn about key topics like negotiation strategies, employment contract mechanisms, and recent legal changes that can protect you from common pitfalls. Plus, get your questions answered in the interactive Q&A session, "Everything You Wanted to Know About Employment Agreements but Were Afraid to Ask."

For more information, visit the CAMA website for a full description and details and register using the link below.

This is a must-attend event for CAOs and local government leaders—secure your spot today and pass this along to your staff members!

UNLOCKING RESOURCES FOR EXCELLENCE:

THE POWER OF CAMA'S BEST PRACTICE LIBRARY

One of the most valuable benefits of CAMA membership is access to the Association's Best Practice Library, a treasure trove of resources designed to support ethical governance and operational excellence in local government.

In local government, maintaining high standards of ethics and accountability is essential to building public trust and ensuring effective governance. A well-crafted Council Code of Conduct plays a pivotal role in this by setting clear expectations for behavior, promoting transparency, and preventing conflicts of interest or ethical violations. CAMA members have access to comprehensive resources to develop or refine their own Council Code of Conduct, ensuring their municipality adheres to best practices.

Beyond Codes of Conduct, the Best Practice Library offers a wealth of templates from member municipalities nationwide, covering a range of critical topics, including:

• Respectful Workplace Policies
• Social Media Policies
• Artificial Intelligence Use Policies
• Customer Service Excellence Policies

To access these valuable tools, CAMA members can simply navigate to the Awards of Excellence / Best Practices Section in the Member's Section. If you don't remember your password click on the lower right hand corner to reset it.

With CAMA's Best Practice Library at your fingertips, you can stay ahead of the curve, leveraging insights and proven strategies to enhance governance and operations within your municipality.

MEET LISA NIBLOCK, CAO

TOWN OF PARADISE, NL

CAMA BOARD REPRESENTATIVE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

How long have you been a CAMA member?  I have been a member of CAMA for nine years.

What do you like most about being a member?

I like the opportunity to network and access to the resources available on the website, but most of all I enjoy the Conference. I feel energized after I return to the Town Hall and have had a lot of success implementing things I have learned while attending.

What career advice do you live by? Who gave it to you? Early on in my municipal career I was having a discouraging day.  Mayor Codner popped into my office and asked what was wrong. I told him it had been a day of continuous complaints and it had me feeling down and out.  He provided advice that I reiterate to myself regularly (especially in the days of social media) - he told me that we only hear from approximately 2% of the population and that he wanted me to leave for the day knowing I had a 98% approval rating. I reiterate this to my team regularly. 

What is the favourite place you’ve travelled? I love to travel. Two of my favourite places to travel are to the Bonavista Peninsula right here in Newfoundland, and Portugal.  I am happiest by the ocean.

What would be the theme song of your life right now? Not to be a downer, but I take a lot of comfort in the song Landslide by Fleetwood Mac right now.  My children are 20 and 22; I am so proud of the lives they are building for themselves – but this song hits home for me.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career as a CAO or senior manager in local government? Go for it!  Start networking and learning.  You truly never know what each day will hold for you and it is a job that will keep you on your toes.  Serving your community provides a great sense of accomplishment when you see big ideas become a reality. 

What experiences and past roles have led you to where you are today? My first work term was with the City of Hamilton – I loved it.  After my children were born, I stayed home until they went to school.  Once I decided to re-enter the workforce, I accepted a position with the Town of Torbay as an Accounts Receivable Clerk, from there I was promoted to Manager of Finance, and then accepted the Executive Administrator role with the Town of Paradise.  When the CAO position became available in Paradise, I was encouraged to apply – and here I am today. 

If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be? Why? I couldn’t pick one person. I see value in all perspectives and enjoy meeting and hearing a broad spectrum of thoughts, opinions, and ideas. At this point and time, I am really looking forward to collaborating with the Board for CAMA.

Describe what a perfect day outside of work would look like for you? My perfect day would consist of a hike near the ocean with my dogs, casting a line or two, golfing, but always ending with a good book.  

THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS

Discover the future of public meetings—where technology meets transparency and accessibility. Explore how innovative solutions are transforming civic engagement, making it easier than ever for everyone to participate and stay informed. Don’t miss out on the insights! Read more now on eScribe's latest blog. 

CAMA'S HUMAN RESOURCES TOOLKIT:

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES & STRATEGIES

To be efficient and effective, organizations need more than just qualified employees; they need people who fit both the role and the organization. Organizational development involves analyzing problems, determining more efficient methods, and ensuring team dynamics complement each other rather than compete. Periodic organizational reviews help evaluate if the organization operates at its most efficient, identifying areas for improvement. A comprehensive review looks at the entire structure, job roles, customer satisfaction, and department interactions, considering areas for further efficiency or redundancies. This process links to business strategy, assesses operational pressures, and involves a gap analysis to address future needs. Change management ensures impacted staff have the necessary support during transitions, and ongoing monitoring evaluates effectiveness.

Organizational development doesn’t always involve structural changes; it can focus on team building to enhance cohesion and maintain strong teams. Teams typically follow the stages of forming, storming, norming, and performing, with occasional adjourning. Continuous teams often repeat this cycle due to changes in projects, roles, or leadership, such as a new Council. Investing in team building is crucial to ensure teams spend more time in the performing stage and less in the storming phase.

For more details, explore the Leadership & Building a Successful Team section of CAMA's Human Resources Toolkit, available in the Member's Section.

• André Theriault, Directeur général, Vallée-des-Rivières, N.-B.
• Victoria Steele, Director of Legislative Services/Town Clerk, Town of Grimsby, ON
• Robert Baker, Chief Administrative Officer, Village of Kaslo, BC
• Lisa MacKenzie, Director of Human Resources, District of Tumbler Ridge, BC