Will be on the job for a year
By Nicole Mueller
Being a town manager involves knowing how each department in the town administration operates and making decisions that will best suit the needs of the residents.
Municipal intern Stephanie Betts will spend the next year learning the ins and outs of how the Town of Beaumont is run.
Betts is one of 15 municipal interns working in communities across the province.
In her third year at the University of Alberta, Betts took a municipal government issues class. A representative from Alberta Municipal Affairs spoke during one of her classes about the internship program and Betts decided to apply.
“It’s very competitive. I applied in June and I didn’t find out until January that I was accepted,” she said.
Betts grew up in Sherwood Park and has spent her entire life in the Edmonton area. She was excited when she was selected to work in Beaumont. “We had a preference list, and Beaumont was definitely on my list.”
During her 12 months with the Town of Beaumont, Betts will spend time in each department. “I’ll learn how they’re all run. It’s meant to teach people how to be town managers,” Betts said.
Over the next 10 to15 years, 85 per cent of the town managers and CAOs in towns and villages throughout the province will retire. The municipal internship program will help find new managers to fill the positions.
Betts officially started May 1. She has attended council and manager meetings, and met with the staff from various departments.
“I’m having such a great time. I’m learning so much and everyone’s been really nice so, it’s been easy to fit in.”
Betts is looking forward to working through the summer. “I know there will be a lot of planning and development issues and recreation and leisure. It’s going to be busy.”
Eventually Betts would like to work in a small town or village. “My goal is to be a CAO within five years.”
“You have the chance to influence a community for the better at a level that no one else has.”