Sundance Topham is gone as the chief administrative officer for the Village of Cumberland.
Mayor Leslie Baird confirmed the staffing change for the CAO with the Comox Valley Record on Tuesday afternoon.
“Sundance Topham is no longer employed by the Village,” she said. “We wish him all the best in his future.”
As far as the reason for the change, the mayor was not in the position to answer whether the decision was Topham’s or the Village’s.
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At press time, there was no listing for the job on the CivicInfoBC website. The Village’s financial officer and deputy chief administrative officer Michelle Mason had been appointed as the acting CAO on a yearly basis, but she is currently on holidays, so manager of operations Rob Crisfield will serve in the position in the meantime.
Beyond that, council will have to address how to fill the position on a permanent basis.
“At this point, we’re looking at all our options,” Baird said.
The Record has contacted Topham via social media for comment. Topham’s LinkedIn profile still lists him at the CAO position in Cumberland (as of July 30). He started with the Village after working for the District of Wells, as CAO for nine months and deputy CAO for almost five years before that. Prior to that, he worked as senior communications advisor for BC Pension Corporation.
On his LinkedIn page, he lists some accomplishments with the Village, such as being the first Buy Social Municipality in the country and leading negotiations for a host community agreement with Comox Strathcona Waste Management.
“I’m a progressive, dedicated and highly-adaptable Chief Administrative Officer with recent experience working at one of the fastest growing municipalities in British Columbia,” as he said on the site.