More change at City Hall

Photo: Dustin Godfrey

Colleen Pennington makes proposal to council in August

The City of Penticton has declined to renew the contract for its economic development officer, citing a review of the department.

Colleen Pennington's contract expired last year, but was on a month-by-month contract with the city as its sole economic development officer. City manager Peter Weeber says he made the decision not to renew her contract.

Weeber announced a review of the department, along with other departments in City Hall, during the budget process, but didn't give a reason for the review.

"As part of that review, we'll be reaching out to all of our stakeholders – so Travel Penticton, DPA, Chamber, a variety of other groups – and start mapping out what we want to do in the future," Weeber said. "Part of that, we review contracts. Ms. Pennington has been with us a period of time, she's done a great job. There's no question or no ill, bad relationship there. It's just we're looking at a new direction."

Weeber didn't provide a reason for the decision to leave Pennington out of the new direction, but added that he will likely have a presentation for council in the next month on his review of the department.