Town of Fort Macleod requires Freedom of Information request for CAO settlement total

A Fort Macleod man will have to file an official request to find out how much the Town of Fort Macleod paid its former chief administrative officer when David Connauton was fired.
Terry Daniel learned last week he has to file an application under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and pay $25 to the Town of Fort Macleod.
Daniel requested the information in July and council directed administration to seek legal advice before revealing the payout.
Daniel raised the issue again at the Aug. 24 council meeting at the Fort Macleod RCMP Centennial Library.
“You were going to get a legal opinion,” Daniel said. “Are we going to get a figure?”
Jill Henderson, who has been acting chief administrative officer since council fired Connauton in June, said she contacted the Town of Fort Macleod’s lawyer.
The legal opinion provided was that if Daniel wants the information, he should go through formal channels which includes paying $25 to make the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act request.
“I have an opinion too, and it’s right from Municipal Affairs,” Daniel responded.
Daniel said that according to the Municipal Government Act the salaries of the chief administrative officer and council members are to be made public.
“The settlement is part of his salary and it should be divulged,” Daniel argued.
Henderson reiterated that the town received the legal opinion that Daniel should file the Freedom of Information request.
“If you want to come in tomorrow and fill out a formal request, we will proceed from there,” Henderson said.
Daniel said Wednesday that he had paid the fee and filed the request.
Council terminated Connauton’s employment with the Town of Fort Macleod following a special meeting May 13 at Fort Macleod Health Centre.
The meeting was attended by Mayor Rene Gendre, Deputy Mayor Brent Feyter and councillors Mike Collar, Michael Dyck, Keith Trowbridge and Gord Wolstenholme. Coun. Trish Hoskin was absent.
The meeting was called to order at 8:45 and was promptly closed to the public.
When council came out of closed session at 10:45 a.m., Gendre’s motion to indemnify council was passed.
Trowbridge then made a motion to dismiss Connauton immediately with full compensation as per his contract, or with the option to resign.
Council has offered no reasons for the dismissal.