Regional clerk stepping down

By Graeme McNaughton/The Oshawa Express

The Region of Durham will soon be looking for a new clerk.

The Oshawa Express has learned that Debi Wilcox, the regional clerk since September 2015, will be stepping down from her position, effective at the end of the year. No reason has been given as to why Wilcox is leaving her position as clerk, with an internal memo circulated to regional councillors stating she “has chosen to move on to the next stage in her life.”

In an emailed statement to The Oshawa Express, Tania Laverty, the region’s communications manager, says that while the region does not comment on the status of its employees, a recruitment process has been started to identify Wilcox’s successor, adding that it will conclude “sometime in 2017.”

Laverty also says that the legislative services division of the region’s corporate services department, led by Cheryl Bandel, the region’s deputy clerk, “will handle all of the responsibilities ordinarily undertaken by the regional clerk (until further notice).”

While no announcement has been made publicly about Wilcox’s departure, regional councillors were informed on Nov. 29 via a memo from Matt Gaskell, the region’s corporate services commissioner.“Please be assured that we will be working diligently to post this vacancy and fill this position as we have many exciting modernization initiatives underway,” the memo reads.Wilcox was officially named the regional clerk in September 2015, although she had taken over the position two months before, replacing the retiring Deb Bowen, who had replaced long-time clerk Pat Madill who had also retired. From 1998 to 2005, Wilcox had served as the deputy clerk under Madill before becoming the clerk for the City of Pickering from 2005 to 2009. From 2009 until her appointment as the regional clerk, Wilcox was clerk for the Town of Whitby.