Thunder Bay treasurer Carol Pollard to leave job in February

The process to hire another city treasurer in Thunder Bay will start in the new year, after Carol Pollard announced she will step down in February.

Pollard, who has headed up the finance department for 15 years, will take on a new career in the public sector.

Her departure marks the fourth high-ranking manager at city hall to leave in the past year.

There are no "hidden" reasons for the changeover of the city's senior management team, acting city manager Norm Gale said.

"I don't think it sends any signal other than that these were, let's say, normal departures, retirements," he said.

"There's no underlying factor other than these are retirements, and this was foreseen."

Finance staff will head up budget talks this year, Gale said, as Pollard is scheduled to leave during budget time.

Pollard, who avoided direct questions about what she's doing next, because it hasn't been formally announced yet, said she was "posed with a very exciting opportunity that I will be following up on."

"It won't be in Thunder Bay, I'll be living here and commuting," she continued, noting that her time as Thunder Bay's city treasurer has been very exciting and interesting.

She added that she's fortunate to retire from her city treasurer position to "explore the new, exciting opportunity."

Pollard has been at the helm of the city's financial department since 2000. Most recently, Pollard has also been heading up the city's Corporate Services and Long-Term Care division.