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RMOW Chief Administrative Officer Bill Barratt to retire

June departure date likely
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Bill Barratt is leaving after 30 years at the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Pique has learned.

The RMOW confirmed the Chief Administrative Officer's retirement today after a flurry of Twitter and Facebook posts.

"We can confirm that Bill Barratt is retiring... Unfortunately, he is out of town today and not available for comment," Senior Communications Officer Melissa Darou wrote in an email to reporters on Thursday.

It's believed Barratt recently sent out an internal email to staff outlining his plans for departure, which is set for a date on or around June 30. RMOW communications could not confirm this date.

Barratt started at the RMOW in May of 1980 and worked his way through the ranks until he was appointed CAO in November 2005 after serving as deputy administrator to Jim Godfrey.

Barratt was at the helm when the municipality upgraded the wastewater treatment plant, helped guide the move to composting and he also helped to secure Whistler's water supply with a new treatment centre on Alpha Lake Rd.

Many employee housing projects such as Cheakamus Crossing and Rainbow were realized under his tenure. And, of course, he was instrumental in helping Whistler put on a successful 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Barratt had his share of critics as well. Many in the community questioned his handling of issues related to the asphalt plant near Cheakamus Crossing.

"We understand that not everyone is comfortable living near an asphalt plant, and those people will have to make their own decisions if they want to live there," he said in June during the controversy.

In year-end comments, Mayor Ken Melamed had this to say about Barratt:

"Our Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Bill Barratt deserves a huge thanks and enormous credit. He has guided the senior management team in building an award-winning corporate culture, a hard working highly motivated staff, and a collaborative relationship with the resort partners."

Check back for details as Pique continues to follow this story.