Susan Hamilton Beach, Sault Ste. Marie's director of public works, is expected to be promoted tonight to deputy chief administrative officer responsible for public works and engineering services.
City council is expected to approve the 23-year city hall veteran to replace Larry Girardi, who will retire on Sept. 1.
The appointment would be unusual in that there was no public appointment process.
Here's how Tom Vair, the city's CAO, explained his recommendation in a report to city council:
It is recommended that the city appoint Susan Hamilton Beach in this role. Susan Hamilton Beach has served the city for over 23 years, the last 13 as the director of public works.
Within the policy for hiring members of the senior management team (SMT), it is contemplated that an appointment process can be undertaken. Given the experience and dedication Susan Hamilton Beach brings to the role, the CAO recommends an appointment.
The hiring of individuals for the SMT is an important task requiring a thoughtful approach. In most instances, the city would undertake a public recruiting process for a senior role. In this case, it is recommended an appointment be made.
First and foremost, the recommendation is being made based on the strength and experience of Susan Hamilton Beach. She is an ideal candidate for this role and will bring continuity and continued leadership to the position.
As mentioned above, Susan Hamilton Beach has served the city for over 23 years, the last 13 as the director of public works.
A secondary factor is the efficient use of staff resources in undertaking a recruitment and hiring process. With an obvious candidate in-house, it is not recommended to proceed through a time-intensive job posting and interview process.
Staff would like to recognize Larry Girardi for his years of service to the corporation and thank him for all his efforts in the role of deputy chief administrative officer responsible for public works and engineering services.
Read the full news release from the City of Sault Ste. Marie below:
The Corporation of the City of Sault Ste. Marie is pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Hamilton Beach as the next Deputy CAO, Public Works and Engineering Services.
“Throughout her tenure with the City, Susan has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication and a commitment to the betterment of the municipality and our community at-large,” said Mayor Matthew Shoemaker. “Susan’s wealth of experience and deep understanding of our operations positions her to seamlessly step into her new role, and I look forward to working with her to provide Saultites with the best possible service from Public Works.”
“With over 23 years of service to the City, including 13 years as the Director of Public Works, we are confident that Susan’s extensive knowledge of the municipality and community will contribute to her success in this position,” said Tom Vair, CAO. “It has been a pleasure working with Susan in her previous role and I look forward to continuing to work with her in her new position as Deputy CAO, Public Works and Engineering Services.”
Hamilton Beach brings a wealth of experience as a senior leader in the Engineering industry, complemented by a strong background in municipal government. As a Professional Civil Engineer (P.Eng.), her expertise in planning, designing, and repairing infrastructure will be instrumental to the City’s future. Her previous roles include over 8 years of experience as a Project Engineer with a local consulting firm, Waste Diversion Supervisor, Design and Subdivision Engineer, Land Development and Environmental Engineer, and most recently Director of Public Works for the City of Sault Ste. Marie, overseeing critical community services such as parks, traffic, waste management, building and fleet management, engineering, and operations.
“I am honoured to be selected as the next Deputy CAO for the City of Sault Ste. Marie,” said Susan Hamilton Beach. “I look forward to working with Mayor Shoemaker, City Council, our dedicated City staff, and the community to advance our City’s development.”
Hamilton Beach holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from McMaster University. She is the proud wife of Paul Beach and their children Luca, Jessica, and Jenna Beach. Hamilton Beach will begin her new role on September 1, 2024, following the planned retirement of Larry Girardi, the current Deputy CAO, Public Works and Engineering Services.