Bullet News CLINTON – The search has begun to find a replacement for the top administrator in the Municipality of Central Huron.
Council recently agreed to hire local government consultant Nigel Bellchamber, of N.G. Bellchamber and Associates, to help it conduct interviews, create a job description, and determine the job title.
“Throughout discussions with Nigel, we develop what it is we’re really looking for. After everybody’s had some time to think about it,” said Brian Barnim, who is a Central Huron councillor.
The municipality lost its chief administrative officer with the departure of Kevin Mcllwain in December 2011. Jack McLachlan came of retirement as head of neighbouring Municipality of Huron East to work two days a week for up to six months.
Council had previously delayed hiring a top administrator until it completes talks about sharing resources and staff with Clinton Raceway Inc. and Regional Equine and Agricultural Centre of Huron. REACH recently hired Jeff Marshall, who has a strong marketing and government relations background, as its executive director to replace its found administrator, Richard Harding.
However, with the provincial announcement that the Slots at Raceways program will end March 31, 2013, putting the future of the raceway and the annual revenue share from the slots to the municipality in jeopardy, some councillors want to move slowly toward hiring.
“My opinion is to wait. Right now I wouldn’t go ahead with doing too much. We may find ourselves in a position that we can’t afford to hire another employee at this kind of rate of pay,” said Dan Colquhoun, who is a Central Huron councillor. The municipality received $641,000 from the Slots in 2011.
Terri Taylor, finance director, reminded council that union negotiations will take place toward the end of the year. The job typically led by the CAO could fall to department managers, she said.
“These things tend to sneak up on you. That’s why we need to get started on the process. If the news is bad, we can cut it off,” said Jim Ginn, who is the mayor of Central Huron.
Bellchamber recently made a presentation to council on the history and role of the chief administrative officer’s position in municipal government.
He said more and more municipalities hired CAOs through the ‘80s and into the ‘90s as a result of increased delegation of responsibilities from the province to municipalities, amalgamation of numerous municipalities and their councils, and increased regulatory requirements in areas like health and safety. The top administrator became general manager of staff and outside consultants that were hired for the additional work.
“In some ways, it’s like being the conductor of the orchestra. You have to know the score. You have to know the strengths of your different players. You have to know when they come together,” he said.
He said a good CAO, who can look at the whole picture, will come from any municipal government background, including treasury, social services and recreations.
Bellchamber said a huge turnover is expected in the next five years, as about half the CAOs become eligible for retirement.
