In Memory of Mike Redfearn

 

Mayor Evan Saugstad, Council members and staff are deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of our long term Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Mike Redfearn.   Mike passed away on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, after a sudden and short illness. 

Mike had been our CAO since March of 1999 and prior to that, as Treasurer from 1985 to 1990.  He served our community with passion, integrity and always a sense of humour.  Mike was an outstanding advocate for Chetwynd and leaves our community a much better place to live, than when he started.  

Staff and Council will always remember Mike’s caring and compassionate nature and how he helped us all get through difficult times.   He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather; his family was his pride and joy.  For those that worked with him, they feel as if they are a part of his extended family.

We extend our deepest condolences to Mike’s wife Suzanne, daughters Lucy, Allison, son Duncan and their families.   Mike will be sorely missed.  

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Tribute to Mike Redfearn
Presented by Mayor Saugstad
August 8 2009 

On behalf of Council, staff and our employees and other local governments, our sincere condolences to Sue and your family.

I also wish to say on behalf of the family, thanks to all of our staff and employees that have helped out during this difficult time.  Many of you have taken it upon yourselves to help the family in many different ways.  Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, neither by the District nor the Family.

To put Mike’s and my relationship into context is a bit difficult and complex. Before becoming Mayor, I never knew Mike and I cannot recall ever meeting him.  For many others who live here, this would be the same.  If you did business with the District, you met Mike.  If you didn’t, you may have never met or known him.

Virtually every day since becoming Mayor in 2002 and when I was in town, I would go into the office at 4 pm.   Mr. Mike as I so often called him, would arrive shortly after and we would talk until 430.   For the first part of our daily meetings, we would usually talk about work.  What happened today, what’s up for tomorrow and what either one of us were currently upset at.

After that was done we would drift into talking about what was going on with the rest of our lives.  Families, philosophical ideas, his music and my hunting, hockey and money, my exercise and his beer.  Then we would both leave, me usually going home, and Mike off for his ritual beer.  Outside those daily meetings and District functions like the Christmas party or summer BBQ, Mike and I never socialized much.

As Mayor, Mike believed I was up there with god (I am sure he did the same thing with Charlie).  The Mayor’s job was to make the rules and Mike’s was to carry them out.  For him, there was no other more important or more powerful person in his life (sorry Sue, but that is what he told me, but I knew otherwise).  But, he also believed that there was one force in his life more powerful than the Mayor or his wife, and that was his contract.

 Last year, at about this time, Mike decided that he wanted to work one more year.  His contract was to expire at year end and he has eligible for retirement.  He enjoyed his work, and he liked working with Council. He had a good staff and employee relations were great.  He felt good about all this and thought that working one more year would be just fine.

 “OK”, I said, “tell us what you want and I will run it by Council.”

He gave me what he thought he was worth and I said “that is too much”.  Now, for those who know Mike, you will realize that when you stressed Mike, he turned red in the face.  He couldn’t help it.  That was his English heritage. 

“What do you mean I am not worth it?”

“You’re getting old and slowing down and not as productive as you used to be.” I said

That was it, Our conversation was over for the day.  Mike went off for his beer to cool down and I went home to garden.

After a couple more stressful and non-productive meetings on his contract, things hadn’t changed.  I had now found out for sure, Mike was just as stubborn as I.  Finally, as a compromise, we agreed to take it to Council and let them decide.  So we did, and Council vote to accept his contract and we both moved on, never to be discussed again.

Elections were stressful for Mike.  Not all that unusual for a CAO or City Manager.  The public got to decide who his boss was and sometimes, these new Mayors took some getting used to.  I was no different.  I had new ideas, new ways of doing things.  Mike, being stubborn, did resist at times, but eventually we settled into a routine.  I even got him going on email, and by this year, many of our decisions we made on line.

From the very first day, Mike and I met, we talked a lot when we were together.  Not a lot stands out about what we said, or did say.  Very seldom did we ever close the door, and other than at contract time, arguments were very few and far between.  Maybe that was because I held the advantage.  I was Mayor and he was my employee.  Or, maybe it was that he served in the Military and was used to taking commands.  Or maybe it was that Mike knew the value of buttering up the Mayor.  He was always full of accolades, always told me that I was right, that this Council was the best he ever worked for.  I got kind of used to that, but then again, I knew that Mike liked his job, liked his control and liked to do the things that he did.  I also knew that he wanted the Mayor to agree with him.

With that I mind, Mike and I developed our relationship.  One that had its moments, but one that never lost the respect we had for each other, or for the jobs we each had to do.  One memorable moment was when I decided that I would complete an employee evaluation on Mike.  After all, he was my employee and I thought that I should do, what all good supervisors do.  That being, tell them what is good, what’s bad, what needs improving, agree on some goals, and then measure them next year when it is all done over again.

“Mike, we do this in industry”, I said as I handed him my evaluation.  “It is an evaluation that lets you know what I think of the job you are doing, and what needs improvement.”

Needless to say, it didn’t go over well.  In fact, after discussing the merits of why Mike didn’t need an evaluation (and why I though he did), I began to realize, when Mike gets going, he gets red, and that day, he was red.  In fact, he was so red that I began to worry. I knew the ambulance was next door, but in the end, I didn’t have to call.  I never did give him another evaluation and he never asked about having another one either.

Mike liked law, and that, combined with his financial skills, were what made him excel at his job.  Every decision was looked at from a legal perspective, then financial. If it met those two tests, he then didn’t have much of an issue with anything that council wanted or did.

Over time, Mike got used to my style.  Come prepared, say what you want, make a decision and move on.  Soon, Council meetings were down to about 15 to 20 minutes. Mike was happy.  Into Council meetings at 430, over before 5 and he could still make the pub in time to meet his friends for a beer.

But, even with those short meetings, Mike thought we could improve our time.

“Under Roberts Rules of Order”, he said, “one shouldn’t be able to discuss an item after it has been received for information.”

“Ok”, I said,” what is your point?”

“You know”, he said, “every time Brenda brings her report forward or she moves an items from information to discussion, she talks and she talks, and then, she never has a resolution.  That is wrong and you need to fix it, and when you do, our meetings will be even shorter.”

“Mike”, I said, if I get Brenda to stop talking our meetings will down be 10 minutes and all that will do is give you time for another beer.”  We never did get around to agreeing on that one.

Once, I almost saw Mike shed a tear.  We were going through the Vancouver airport a couple of years ago when security caught him with a 40 pounder of vodka in his carry-on luggage. After they convinced him that he wasn’t getting on the plane with it, he came to me and said – “Wish they would tell you when they change the rules.”  To which I relied, it started at 911 Mike, were you been? It was too late to go back to find his luggage and check it in, so he had to give it up.  He complained about that for days.

Looking back, it is hard to say if I would do anything over again.  I wonder if I should have gone for a few more beers with him, but, maybe that would have changed our relationship.   I also wonder about the times Laverne and I told him – “Mike, do you know you will be dead before your retire if you don’t start exercising?”  I can’t remember exactly how he relied, but it wasn’t all that nice and not repeatable in mixed company.

But, then again, I would like to think that those comments did have an effect on him, as when I first met him, he was substantially larger. Over the past few years he lost allot of weight, went for regular walks and did spend some time talking about his health.  I am not sure if this was the result of our influence or not, but I would like to think so.

I know I don’t have to apologize to you Mike, as you watch us here.  I am not sorry for saying the things I did, but I will truly miss you.  I also know that you understand that even Mayor’s don’t have the authority under the Community Charter to make things like this happen.

Laverne and I also told Mike that before he retired, we would get him to the top of Old Baldy for a beer.  He always replied that he didn’t have to climb no hill to drink a beer.  He could get one allot easier than that. 

Well, we never did get him to the top of Baldy, and I am sorry for that.  When Mike passed on and Laverne and I were told the news, we decided to climb Baldy for a beer in Mike’s memory.  At least if he isn’t here, we thought he could watch and enjoy the thought.  So up we went and had our beer for Mike, and just for good measure, we had to have second, this as an apology to Mike for all those jokes we made about his exercise.

Over the past few years, and maybe because of age, Mike slowly changed.  He went from a person who managed the District to one who managed the people, who managed the District.  He truly became a person that cared for his employees, and in turn, that caring was reciprocated.

It is hard to say what Mike’s legacy to Chetwynd will be.  His attention to legal and financial matters makes sure the District will be well run, long into the future. His military training ensured we have a functioning organizational structure, and his caring for people in need will surely be passed on.

And finally, as you all know, Mike truly did like his beer. Every day, he had to have his couple of pints.  He truly enjoyed spending this time with his friends and co-workers.  He also enjoyed trying to get his pal Maisey, to buy him one.  He used to tell me of all the tricks he used, and he was so proud when it worked.

 So, if you feel like it, and after this is over, please feel free to toast Mike with a beer.  And, if you really feel like it, try to get Maisey to buy you one.  If you do, Mike would be really proud, as nothing like a free beer made Mike feel better.  

I also know Mike would have to been dragged, kicking and screaming to this gathering, to attend an event like this.  Not only did Mike not like public gatherings, he didn’t like public gatherings that dragged on.

Sue, family, or as Mike was known to affectionately say “my nest of little pit vipers”, thanks for letting me speak on Mikes behalf.

Mike, thanks for the time we spent together.  It was worth it.

You left us your legacy to work with.

We won’t forget.

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