LAMBTON SHORES — Brent Kittmer, the Municipality of Bluewater's utilities superintendent for two and a half years, is moving down the road to a major management post in Lambton Shores.

Effective Feb. 14, Kittmer becomes director of community services for the municipality that stretches from Grand Bend south to Forest. He succeeds Peggy Van Mierlo-West who left  Oct. 10 to become director of engineering and public works for the Township of West Lincoln in the Niagara area.

“I believe Lambton Shores is a dynamic and energetic place, and I am very much looking forward to the new challenges and opportunities that the municipality will offer,” Kittmer told the Times-Advocate. “I'm looking forward to meeting all of the staff, council, and residents and hope that I can make a positive impact through my work.”

Since Van Mierlo-West's departure, chief administrative officer John Byrne has been overseeing the department which handles public works and recreation. Consultant Fred Galloway was hired to assist in the search for a new community services director.

Word of Kittmer's hiring leaked out before Lambton Shores could make an announcement.

“The press release regarding our new director is still with council and will be sent to all media when appropriate,” Mayor Bill Weber told the Times-Advocate.

Kittmer has a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Western Ontario and says he is a strong proponent of continual education.

“I am currently enrolled in the Diploma in Public Administration program offered through Western's Political Science department, and have the ultimate goal of achieving my Masters in Public Administration.”

“After graduation I was employed at CAMI Automotive Inc. in Ingersoll as the company's environmental officer, and made the decision to leave the private world in August of 2009 for my position as utilities superintendent with Bluewater.”

He completes that assignment Feb. 10 and begins his new duties four days later.

“I am very much appreciative of the time that I have spent employed at Bluewater,” Kittmer commented. “Working for the municipality has exposed me to a wide range of experiences and responsibilities. I have been lucky enough to work with a council that was supportive of the initiatives that I have brought forward. I will always have fond memories of my time at Bluewater because I have worked with a great group of elected officials, staff, and residents.”

Van Mierlo-West had served as community services director from July 2006  through a busy period of senior government stimulus-funded projects, citizen criticism of project costing estimates and ongoing heat over sewer collection and sewer treatment issues. She told the Times-Advocate, “My decision (to move) was a professional one. My new role will bring expanded responsibilities and opportunities.”

One week after Van Mierlo-West's departure, Lambton Shores council agreed to hire a consulting firm to find out if the municipality's staff salaries and wages are competitive in the ‘marketplace.’ For an estimated a fee of $7,000 to $10,000, the firm McDowell and Associates was to update a compensation review they conducted for Lambton Shores in 2005.