Former NAIT president takes city interim CAO role

By COLLIN GALLANT on June 15, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

City council has gone to the world of academia to find an interim city manager while the search for a permanent top administrator continues.

Glenn Feltham, best known for heading the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, was named to the interim position Tuesday, one day after council discussed the move in a meeting on Monday night.

He will take over the position today as former and interim chief administrator Merete Heggelund’s three-month contract expires.

“Medicine Hat is a great community with unlimited potential,” said Feltham in a statement. “I look forward to working with Mayor Clark, members of council, and all city employees in elevating our city and the people we serve.”

Feltham was president of NAIT from 2011 to 2019, during which time the institution transformed to become a wider ranging degree-granting program.

A city release announcing his hiring highlights his ability for transformative planning in large organizations.

He holds a doctorate in accounting, a masters in business administration, a law degree and two undergraduate degrees.

In an interview before Tuesday’s announcement, Linnsie Clark said she didn’t have a set time table for the permanent hiring process, but was encouraged a search firm is now engaged and the process is being advertised.

“As we progress through the transition of the city manager’s role, I am so pleased that Glenn has agreed to lead the organization in the coming months,” she stated in a release.

Heggelund, who served as the city’s chief administrative officer from 2014 until retiring in 2018, rejoined the city in March following the sudden retirement of city manager Bob Nicolay.

The city manager’s job posting was added to the city’s career opportunities listing on June 2.