CBT staff grieving, but getting job done, says board member
By John Boivin Local Journalism Initiative
The death of the Columbia Basin Trust’s CEO last week may mean a short delay in projects getting approved, the Regional District of the Central Kootenay’s representative on the Trust’s board told directors on Thursday.
Area C Director Larry Binks said CBT staff were devastated by the sudden death last Wednesday of Neil Muth, the CEO of the multi-million dollar fund.
“They are frustrated, they are hurt, angry, they are upset, asking ‘Why us?’,” Binks reported to his fellow directors the RDCK monthly meeting Thursday. “It’s all about the grieving process.”
He said counsellors have been called in to help staff deal with the loss of their leader. While there would be a “little slowdown on how we get business done”, Binks said there was no need for concern.
“As Basin residents, you don’t have anything to worry about projects moving forward, that sort of thing.”
Binks praised Muth’s 11-year service with the CBT, calling his death a ‘tragic and terrible loss to the community and the Basin”.
“He was such a gentlemen, such a leader,” said Binks. “He was the face of the CBT, because of his work hundreds of thousands of dollars flowed into this Regional District alone.”
Social media panned
But Binks also told the board he was angry with the way news of Muth’s death spread, criticizing an unnamed politician for posting about it on social media. He said family didn’t even have time to react- Muth’s wife was out of town at the time- before people began hearing about it.
“I want you to know how dangerous social media can be if we don’t think before we hit the ‘send’ button.”
Muth died on Wednesday. Binks says board members knew about it, but the Trust didn’t make an official statement confirming his death until Sunday. He told reporters the Trust board’s silence was done in consideration of the family.
“We didn’t announce it earlier because we wanted to make sure staff knew about it first,” he said. “We certainly, before that, we wanted to make sure the family was OK with it. Because it is a family issue, it’s about the CBT so much as it’s about the family.
“So that’s why we didn’t announce it right away… to announce something out there before the family had a chance to be informed, to me that’s totally unacceptable.”
Binks also criticized the ambulance service, saying news of Muth’s death spread through emergency service stations around the region.
“I have a huge issue with that,” he told the board, and said he was going to raise the issue of patient care and confidentiality with officials. Speaking with reporters after, however, he said he wanted to get more information first.
“At this time, because I haven’t had the opportunity to speak with those principals, I think I need to just keep it to myself for now,” he said. “Until I’ve confirmed it, until I have a chance speak to those folks, make sure I am on solid ground with them. I also want to make sure the family is respected in that regard.”
Binks told the RDCK directors a new CEO will be appointed at the next meeting of the Trust board, in about two weeks. While he said staff are “walking the halls a little slower, reflecting on what they’ve lost” he says work is getting done.
“We have to move forward, we have to deal with our grief in our own way and continue to do the business that Neil would want us to do,” he said. “I know that’s the way Neil would have wanted that done.”
RDCK board chair Karen Hamling opened the director’s monthly meeting by calling Muth a “good friend and excellent colleague”.
“I’m not sure how he can be replaced,” she said, asking directors for a moment’s silence in Muth’s memory.
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