Details surrounding departure of Centre Wellington CAO remain unclear

by Mike Robinson

ELORA

Details regarding the departure of Centre Wellington chief administrative officer (CAO) Michael Wood may remain unclear for some time.

Clerk Marion Morris said the item came up under a closed session on July 16. That session was held at 6pm prior to the regular session at 7pm.

But as the regular portion of the meeting began, Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj noted there was nothing to report from the earlier in-camera session.

The following day Ross-Zuj announced Wood was “stepping down” from his post as CAO at the Township of Centre Wellington. Council appointed Andy Goldie, the township’s parks and recreation director, as acting CAO.

Morris said  the closed session was held in accordance with Section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, to consider personal matters about identifiable individuals, including municipal or local board employees.

She noted she attended the closed session, but was not told in advance what the matter was. Morris noted actions within closed sessions are regarding procedure or direction to staff. At that time, council directed Goldie be the acting CAO.

If further information could be brought forward, Morris believed it would be through the township’s human resources manager.

Morris anticipated the bylaw appointing Goldie as acting CAO will the first order of business at the next council meeting on Aug. 13, unless a special council meeting is called before that time.

During the interim, Morris anticipated that Goldie’s role would be whatever council had directed him to do. She said it was unfortunate that the next meeting is not until Aug. 13.

Wood served as Centre Wellington’s CAO for the past 11 years.

The township will be launching “a competition” to fill the position on a permanent basis starting in mid-September. The township website has already been changed; its welcome message states Andy Goldie is the acting CAO.

Early Tuesday morning, Ross-Zuj emailed the Advertiser office to say she was in a meeting and would return a phone call later that morning. In that call, the mayor explained she referred the information on the process to the clerk, who directs council through personnel meetings when they occur.

As to Goldie’s appointment, Ross-Zuj said he is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario with a degree in administration who has an 18-year history working within senior management roles.

“He has a strong record of employment in Centre Wellington,” Ross-Zuj said.

She clarified that until his official appointment next month, Goldie has no signing privileges. The idea of his current appointment was to keep the municipality going until that time.

The exact details of Wood’s departure, remain under wraps. Ross-Zuj said most of that falls under the issue of personnel, which is controlled strictly through labour laws. Apparently that includes information on the reasons behind his departure.

Wood’s contract, which was posted online through the township website, noted that if he was retiring or resigning, three months notice was required. It also stated the township could terminate his employment at any time for just cause.

If the reason did not include just cause, the contract stipulated that in lieu of a notification period, there would be a payment of three month’s salary, plus one additional month of salary for each full year of Wood’s service, to a maximum of 18 months.

Role of the CAO

The CAO reports directly to council and  is the head of administration for the township. The CAO is responsible for the overall general management of the organization and performs various duties as contained in a bylaw passed by council.

Through working with the senior management team, the CAO makes recommendations on policy matters to council and ensures that policies, procedures and the directions of council are communicated to, and acted upon, by staff.

The CAO’s office is also responsible for all personnel policies, placements and issues.

The CAO’s office is comprised of the chief administrative officer and one executive secretary whose time is shared with the mayor’s office.

Human resources and the township’s economic development office are also part of the CAO’s responsibilities.

July 27, 2012