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Staffing changes at the Village of Burns Lake office

Stephanie Beerling, Village of Burns Lake's administrative assistant is working her way up through the ranks, following a recent promotion as the deputy director of corporate services.

Stephanie Beerling, Village of Burns Lake's administrative assistant is working her way up through the ranks, following a recent promotion as the deputy director of corporate services.

Village chief administrative officer (CAO) Sheryl Worthing said that with a change in job title also comes a change of duties and responsibilities for Beerling who has worked at the village for almost two years.

She is now responsible for duties such as taking the minutes of council meetings, ensuring that access is provided to records of council and council committees, providing administrative support services to the CAO, preparing council agendas, research, assist in the implementation of major village of projects and initiatives, act as the deputy or chief elections officer as well as manage media releases.

Beerling is currently working towards being appointed as the director of corporate services and has almost completed a public administration program at Capilano University.

Worthing said Beerling is also taking a diploma of local government management course at the University of Victoria, all of which will be credited to towards a public administration degree with Thompson Rivers University.

"She has completed the educational requirements to move in to the deputy position and within the next two years will be eligible for the director position," said Worthing.

Worthing went on to say, "We are eager to move her into this role and are very supportive of her educational goals. We are advocates of promoting from within and providing employees with the educational tools needed to do so."

According to Worthing the main difference between the deputy position and the director position is responsibility.

"The deputy carries out the duties, but the director of corporate services is ultimately responsible," Worthing explained.

She added, "The director of corporate services is a statutory position so we are required to have someone in that position. In our case I assume that role as chief administrative officer until such time as the deputy is promoted."

Along with the change in job title, an increase in remuneration has also been awarded to Beerling.

"Increased responsibilities do come with increased remuneration as with all organizations.The deputy director of corporate services salary is $60,000, Worthing added.

In her previous position Beerling was paid at an hourly.

News of the promotion was released under the in camera portion of the Village of Burns Lake council agenda last week.

The village also have a new intern working at the office.

Kaleigh Milinazzo recently started a five month position with the village of Burns Lake as a corporate development services intern.

Milinazzo will be graduating from the University of Northern B.C. in April this year with a bachelor of political science and international studies.

To be eligible the intern program, students needed to have a student membership with the North Central Local Government Management Association, be studying in a program that is relevant to local government and be from the local area.

"Our position was posted with the University of Northern B.C. (UNBC) professor that mentors students with an interest in local government.This year there were only two local students enrolled in public administration programs at UNBC and  after a successful interview, Kaleigh Milinazzo fit all of our criteria for the program therefore she was chosen," Worthing said.

"The program is funded through general revenue budget which allocates funding for staff administration," she added.