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It may be hard to believe, but a longtime fixture at the Town of Oliver is moving on.
Municipal Manager Tom Szalay is resigning his position after more than 24 years in the same office. His last day is August 1.
“It’s time to move on,” he told the Chronicle on Monday.
The Town has sent out a request for proposals to fill the vacancy, which will no doubt be a tall order.
Szalay recalled when he first started the position. A former employer told him the average shelf life for a municipal manager in BC was seven years.
“I outlived that (by three times).”
Szalay said it was nice to have that kind of stability in employment, in which he gained a ton of knowledge about the community and how it works.
When asked if he planned to retire, he indicated his plans to take a break for a while before deciding what to do.
“Just because I’ve got the landing gear down doesn’t mean the engine is shut off . . . I’m too young for the rocking chair.”
Former town councillor and Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson said she
had the privilege of working with Szalay during her 10 years in municipal politics.
“The Town of Oliver has enjoyed good working relationships with all levels of governments thanks to the commitment of its staff under Tom’s management. Tom is one of the smartest people I know.”
Larson said Szalay has always been a champion for Town staff and a great promoter of Oliver. “Despite the numerous frustrations of being the municipal manager, he has always maintained his professional standards. We have been very fortunate in a small town to have such a skilled manager, and I wish him the best.”
