After 22 years of service to the Town of Cochrane, chief administrative officer (CAO) Julian deCocq has announced he will be hanging up his hat this June after nearly fourty years in public administration.
Providing leadership and direction to some 250 town staff, the CAO acts as a bridge between administration and council to ensure all parties have adequate information to make key policy decisions, and that council priorities and strategic decisions are effectively achieved. While recruitment is underway and the town anticipates the position will be filled by September, the Eagle caught up with deCocq to ask him about his key highlights as a long-time employee.
Cochrane Eagle: Twenty two years. How has your job and role as a CAO changed throughout the years?
Julian deCocq: Twenty years ago the town was just over 6,000 people. The role of the CAO was much more tactical than it is today. One day you were the planner, the next the bylaw enforcement officer, or the chair of the economic development committee.
You needed to stay involved in many issues largely because there weren’t enough people or resources. Today the role of the CAO in Cochrane is much more strategic and requires strong communication with mayor and council as well as senior staff. As a community, Cochrane has grown and matured both in terms of intellectual capital and complexity of governance.
Eagle: Tell us about your greatest achievements, what are you the most proud of?
deCocq: I’m most proud of the organization that the Town of Cochrane has become and that starts with the people. I have been very fortunate over the years to work with highly motivated, passionate folks who have helped create a community of choice.
When you have strong professional relationships with staff and council, so much can be accomplished. While I would never want to take ownership over what has been done, I am proud of the team that saw the old Domtar site transition into the Quarry and the subsequent benefit this has had on the downtown including the Old Town District which will continue to be a top priority as a destination.
In the not-too-distant future, the old town hall site will be developed and along with that a new pedestrian crossing that will link the old and the new. Cochrane can also boast about its strong infrastructure particularly in terms of water and wastewater. And of course the preservation and protection of our important open space and natural park areas.
Eagle: What have been the greatest obstacles or challenges throughout your career with the town?
deCocq: No job would be without its fair share of obstacles and challenges. In Cochrane, we faced many that included working with other orders of government – both provincial and federal. Constantly having to estimate when and how much grant money would be received from the province for various infrastructure projects. Or convincing provincial authorities about the importance of maintaining their own highway infrastructure. Local politics at times could also be a challenge. And I don’t mean the politicians. I mean the politics that can be divisive within the community. Every term of office has one or two issues that seem to polarize the community. But that is what makes Cochrane somewhat unique.
Eagle: What are your plans now?
deCocq: Sharon and I have no plans to leave Cochrane. We are comfortable in terms of location to family and what the community has to offer. We are the proud grandparents of eight grandkids and no doubt will become more involved in their lives. To be able to travel a bit more especially on seniors rates will be an exciting new opportunity. I also look forward to keeping my music going and playing tenor sax in my 19-piece Hippocratic Oath dance band.
Eagle: What advice would you give to your successor?
deCocq: Be compassionate, show empathy and support staff and council.
