The Third Avenue entrance to Saskatoon city hall is shown on July 29, 2019 during a break from a city council meeting. (Photo Credit: Phil Tank/The StarPhoenix)

Longtime employee named top lawyer at Saskatoon city hall

Previous city solicitor left after change to reporting structure. A new city solicitor has been chosen at Saskatoon city hall, but she will report to the city manager, not city council.

By Phil Tank

Cindy Yelland (LLB'92), a University of Saskatchewan law graduate with 24 years of experience with the City of Saskatoon, recently featured in an article by the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, has been promoted to the top job in the city’s legal department, pending approval by council.

Yelland has been filling in as interim city solicitor since the departure of her predecessor, Patricia Warwick, in April.

Warwick left the city suddenly, shortly after a change was approved by city council to alter the reporting structure of the solicitor’s office.

Previously, the city solicitor was hired by city council and reported to council. Under the change, the city solicitor reports to city manager Jeff Jorgenson.

City council will be asked to approve the hire on Monday because provincial legislation still requires council’s okay, although there is a proposed change that would remove the need for council approval.

That change would leave the city manager and city clerk as the only city hall employees hired by council and who report directly to council.

A city report says Yelland was chosen after a “thorough” recruitment process conducted by Jorgenson and the city’s human resources department.

Read more at https://thestarphoenix.com.