Who is Rob Tremblay?
Over the past several months, I’ve had plenty of conversations with numerous locals regarding local government, local governance, the administration of local governance, and the general way in which things are done or not done when it comes to this sleepy little town along the banks of the mighty Bonnechere.
It’s amazing, though, how often that name pops into the conversation on its own. I don’t know Rob Tremblay from a head of lettuce, and similar to a head of lettuce, information on him seems hard to come by.
I know he was the CAO —Chief Administrative Officer — of Renfrew. And then he wasn’t.
Just like that, poof, a lingering puff of smoke, and there he was, gone. Surely not enough time in that office to leave a footprint. And yet, from the conversations I’m having, you would think that he not only left a footprint, but a bootprint with a bruise.
I didn’t meet anyone who really pumped his tires, I can tell you that. And as I said, I don’t know the fellow, or know of the fellow, other than he kept coming up unbidden in conversations. Not that I’m an elite investigator or anything, but it surely means something.
It means there’s either something more out there to be known or there’s an individual in desperate need of a reputational reboot, at least as it pertains to a sleepy little town along the banks of the mighty Bonnechere.
It sounds like Mr. Tremblay either jumped ship or was thrown overboard, or jumped before thrown, and now plies his trade somewhere in the Clerk’s Office at the City of Ottawa, a bigger place along a bigger and mightier river.
Leaving the top job in paradise for the hurly-burly of the big city lights? From his photo he looks like a relatively young man, so I could certainly see the allure of the nation’s capital as opposed to driving by Cal Scott’s store everyday. So on that score, and with that image in mind, I can see completely the opportunities present on a much larger stage, and would totally grasp the idea of Tremblay embracing Renfrew’s corporate motto of “Let it Flourish” and adapting it to read “Let Rob Flourish,” and then get the hell out of town.
But holy smokes, is that not, at least, a bit of a professional climb-down? To be Lord Of All Renfrew, master of all he sees, arbiter of fates, benefactor of many, his finger on the pulse of the community and all the buttons that make it work, sovereign in all things before him? To join the faceless, anonymous crowd busily bustling about in the Ottawa Clerk’s Office?
He was a CAO. Now he’s buried under a Clerk. Yes, the locations are different, but still, that’s like being a general and trading in your crowns so you can be a major instead. Or even a captain.
I wonder what the salary difference might be? In 2023, according to Ontario’s Sunshine List, Tremblay pulled down a salary of $156,191. As I look at that same list, I see that he was the third-highest paid employee at the Town of Renfrew, out-matched by the former Director of Parks and Recreation Jordan Wall — another one of the names that comes up — who checked in at $169,634 and a certain Michael Asselin, the Acting-Director of Strategic Asset Management, at $156,38.
My God, what is it about Directors of Parks and Recreation in this town? And who comes up with the titles for these people? Director of Strategic Asset Management? Really? What in blazes is that? The guy in charge of the popcorn machine at the annual Frew Fest?
All I know is that if I were Rob Tremblay I’d be plenty pissed to be out-earned by two guys who I out-ranked and who report to me. By God, if I was Mr. Tremblay, I’d sure as f**k have something to say about that. But would I get so mad that I’d jump the fence and lose myself in the Clerk’s Office in downtown Ottawa? Were there no openings in the cafeteria? Like what gives?
From what I understand, the CAO receives a financial bonus for every person working under their supervision. Would that tempt me to go on a hiring binge to boost that per-capita allowance? In fairness, I’ve not officially, through Freedom of Information requests, confirmed this practice to be in existence. As a theoretical, though, it bears some paying attention to.
Those FOI requests are forthcoming, they just need to be worded very specifically so as not to be potentially sabotaged. Not that I’m suggesting they would be, but it’s not like I’m imbued with an overwhelming sense of confidence in what happens over there at Fort Renfrew. Remember, I’d be asking for information about one of their own, so one never knows. Since openness and transparency are seemingly a running joke in this place, you have to do the best you can and hope for a good result.
This is an outfit that keeps its records in cardboard boxes over at the former Rec Centre.
You would think a question like “Does the CAO receive additional compensation for any employees under their supervision?” would be easy enough to respond to. Yes or no come to mind as possible responses. But I fear it won’t be that simple. I’ll likely be accused of playing politics, since that’s what they say when they don’t like what you’re asking.
Our own Clerk, Carolynn Errett, once cautioned me not to believe everything I hear in the form of small-town gossip. Sage advice from somebody like that to somebody like me.
With Ms. Errett’s help and guidance, I now feel I truly understand the pratfalls of listening to people on the street, in the stores, behind the counters of those stores, stakeholders, and voters at large.
You know, the people who pay the freight. Who carry the water.
These are the same people I feel will have something to say when they get their tax bills from the town, sometime soon if the town ever gets around to completing a budget.
These are your gossip-mongers.
They also happen to be the people who foot the bill.
NEWSMAGRENFREW 