It’s Marlene Usher’s first day on the job as CEO of the new Port of Sydney Corporation. Last week, Regional Council approved Usher’s reassignment to the post from her job as acting director of general with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency in Sydney. CBRM chief administrative officer Michael Merritt says the municipality created the job and hired Usher to offer “strategic guidance” and enhance marketing efforts for future port development. The Port Corporation will pay half of Usher’s 200-thousand dollar annual salary with ACOA picking up the other half. However, the CBRM will cover the Port Corporation’s share until the non-profit organization becomes financially viable. Usher begins her job today while uncertainty remains about the new governance structure at the Port of Sydney. The current chair of the existing Port Board Bruce Meloney says they have questions about the new entity and would like a chance to express their concerns. Regional Councillors will sit on the interim port board starting in April until a new board made up of community members and a Mi’kmaq representative is named next year.
