BATTLEFORD — Battleford town council has let its chief administrative officer go after a lengthy absence from the country.
As of Friday, June 9, Ash Alam is no longer employed with the Town of Battleford as chief operating officer, a statement from the town declared Tuesday.
“Council made this decision due to the extended absence over an unapproved period of time since start of April,” the statement read. Council made the decision to replace the CAO, the statement continued, as government and local compliance issues often require approvals of a certified CAO and "... in best interest of the community the decision was required sooner than later to not delay summer projects and funding.”
The recruitment process is said to already be underway and council hopes to have a replacement in place before fall.
Ashraful Alam came to Battleford in 2020 to fill the position vacated by former CAO John Enns-Wind earlier in the year, and acting CAO David Gillan later in the year, who went on to run for mayor of North Battleford.
Earlier reporting indicates Alam told council when he left, apparently in March, that he was going to the United Arab Emirates to attend to a family emergency. When he hadn’t returned by April 27, an acting CAO was appointed.
