Hendry hired on merit: Mayor
At the opening of Clearview Township’s council meeting July 13, Councillor Robert Walker moved to go in camera at the end of the meeting to discuss a personnel matter.
Just before 9 p.m., council and staff began a two-hour closed-door session to discuss the employment of Tim Hendry, the township’s newly hired communications and marketing coordinator.
During the meeting both shouts and laughter could be heard from council chambers at different times.
At the end of the in camera session, Clearview Mayor Chris Vanderkruys said during the meeting he had declared a conflict of interest and passed the chair to Deputy Mayor Barry Burton.
He said rather than answer questions, he preferred to release a statement the following day.
“Council has determined that after much discussion with senior staff and members of council that Tim Hendry achieved the position on his own merit, without any influence from myself, my position as mayor or from our personal relationship. The senior staff members who participated in the interview process with the various candidates were not aware of any personal relationship and did not become aware of the personal relationship until after the decision to hire had been made and communicated publicly. It was only after the decision to hire had been made and communicated publicly that the personal relationship was made known,” reads the statement.
“It was clearly stated that I did not disclose the personal relationship with Tim Hendry as I did not want the hiring process to be positively or negatively influenced by my position as mayor. I understand that the optics of the situation could have been easily misconstrued, but I would like to formally confirm that I did not influence or have anything to do with the interview selection, interview process or the final hiring decision.”
On July 10, The Creemore Echo published an article linking Hendry to Mayor Chris Vanderkruys after it learned that the new hire for the much-debated position was the mayor’s daughter’s boyfriend.
Clerk Pamela Fettes said council went into closed session Monday to discuss personal matters about an identifiable individual.
“There were no resolutions arising from the closed session,” said Fettes by e-mail. “I confirm that there has been no change in direction with respect to the decision made by township staff to hire the communications/marketing coordinator position with the Township of Clearview.”
Clearview’s human resources manager Pavlina Thompson told The Echo last week that Hendry was awarded the job through a points-based selection process.
Hendry is a social media marketer and owner of TRH Marketing, based in Wasaga Beach. He graduated from university last year.
Hendry will report to CAO Steve Sage, who has been away on holiday, returning to work July 20.
