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Medicine Hat city hall (CHAT News file photo)
CITY HALL

Medicine Hat chief of staff position cut by city

Nov 3, 2023 | 1:50 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The City of Medicine Hat has dissolved its little-known chief of staff position, it confirmed to CHAT News on Friday.

The employee who previously occupied the position, Adam Nelson, recently changed his work history on LinkedIn to show he was no longer employed by the city.

β€œThe Chief of Staff position is no longer in place,” city staff said in response to questions from CHAT News.

Council approved offering Nelson the chief of staff position during its Sept. 6, 2022, meeting. Nelson started working at the city during October 2022, according to his work history.

It is not immediately clear what responsibilities Nelson took on at city hall.

A public relations advisor for the mayor and council, Rachel St. Jean, was hired in mid-2022. Officials said St. Jean was to report to the chief of staff, a position that was not yet filled at the time she starting working at city hall.

St. Jean remains at city hall, staff confirmed.

A recently updated City of Medicine Hat electorate organization chart did not show the chief of staff or public relations advisor positions.

The removal of the chief of staff position comes after several changes to the leadership of city hall over in 2023.

In February, Ann Mitchell came on board as the new city manager and in July city hall revamped its organizational structure while announcing a pair of new managing directors.

Reached by message, Nelson wrote he did not have any comment at this time in response to CHAT News.