Management team hired by transition board
By Scott Woodhouse Express Staff

Bert Chalmers, a resident of St. Vincent Township, demanded to know the criteria and procedures used by the consultants, as well as the job descriptions for each post.

"I have no hidden agenda," he said. "All this material should be available under the Freedom of Information Act."

Chalmers said he wanted to know how many councillors were involved in the hiring of the CAO and what process the Transition Board will use when filling advisory committee positions.

The Transition Board hired Owenson Consulting Ltd. to prepare an organizational and management structure for the new municipality. The consultants and the board came up with a five-person management team consisting of a Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), a Clerk/Treasurer, a Public Works and Property Manager, a Chief Building Official, and a Recreation Facilities Manager.

The management positions were posted internally and all employees of the three municipalities were asked to submit applications. The consultants conducted the interview process and made their staffing recommendations to the Transition Board at an in camera meeting held August 29. The Transition Board accepted their recommendations and announced the management team at its meeting last Tuesday night.

The head of the Meaford Public Utilities Commission, Chris Webb has been selected as the new CAO for the Town of Georgian Highlands. Meaford Clerk/Treasurer Graham Shaw has been hired to fill the same position for the new municipality. Barry Gilray, Public Works Superintendent for the Town of Meaford, was hired as the new Public Works and Property Manager. Meaford arena and ball park manager Winston Hill was hired as the new Recreation and Facilities manager. And Meaford's Chief Building Official, John Acres, will fill the same position for the new municipality of Georgian Highlands.

"The main task of the management team will be to get our staff in place," said Webb, adding he expected the staffing plan to be in place within a four to five week period. "The rest of the staff are wondering what their place will be in the new municipality," said Webb. The management team held its first meeting last Tuesday morning to get the ball rolling. Webb said, adding "there is a big job ahead." "I believe it's the wish of the transition board that we get to work on these as soon as possible," he said. Webb said he's looking forward to working for the people of the new municipality. "I think this team will work well together," he said. "I know there have been a lot of concerns about this process - we all have the best interests of the taxpayers in mind."