After five-years as London's top bureaucrat, Art Zuidema is gone from city hall.
The announcement of Zuidema's departure came in a news release issued by the city just after midnight on Wednesday.
"City Manager Art Zuidema is no longer with the City of London effective February 14, 2017. Council thanked Mr. Zuidema for his leadership during the last five years and wished him well with future endeavors," read the release from Rob Paynter, the head of the city's communications department.
Martin Hayward, the city's treasurer and chief financial officer, has been appointed as acting city manager.
Zuidema, who was in attendance at the start of a city council meeting on Tuesday, vanished before the end of it. His quick departure raises questions whether Zuidema quit or was fired. However, city officials are not commenting stating that it is a human resources matter.
It is also unclear how much, if anything, Zuidema's departure will cost London taxpayers.
Zuidema was hired by council in August 2012 following the resignation of Jeff Fielding. A consultant was hired to conduct a search for the new city manager. Zuidema came from the city of Hamilton.
He began to clash with council members in 2014 with some opening expressing disappointment with his performance. In the years that followed, the city's inside workers, the head of the London Police Services Board, and the president of the London Professional Firefighters Association called Zuidema out for his bargaining style.
