The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) board has parted ways with its chief administrative officer.
“On behalf of the Regional District Board of Directors, I’d like to thank Bill Newell for his years of dedication and service to the RDOS,” said Spencer Coyne, vice-chair of the regional district. “Since 2008, Bill has worked to establish the regional district as a high performing organization. He guided staff and the board of directors through an attempted ransomware attack, global pandemic, and countless natural disasters.”
The statement was released on the morning of Oct. 30, following a special in-camera meeting which had been held on Friday, Oct. 27.
Jim Zaffino, senior manager of finance with the regional district, has been appointed as interim chief administrative officer.
Newell had earlier come under fire within the regional district.
In early March, 2023, the regional district held a two-and-a-half hour in-camera meeting to deal with allegations of impropriety against Newell.
Late in 2022, the regional district awarded a contract of $60,000 to Sundog Solutions, a consulting firm attached to Newell’s daughter, to perform an emergency program review.
Newell was the highest paid member of the regional district’s staff. In the Statement of Financial Information for the year ending Dec. 31, 2022, Newell received remuneration of $192,118 and had expenses of $3,453.
