DIDSBURY - Town of Didsbury officials have hired a new chief administrative officer (CAO) to replace former CAO Ethan Gorner, who resigned from the top administrative position in February.
Michael Simpson will assume the position on September 15.
The CAO is the top employee of the municipality, overseeing all other staff and answering directly to council.
According to a press release issued by the municipality on Thursday, Simpson was most recently the CAO of County of Paintearth for the past seven years.
Before that he was a CAO of the Village of Willingdon and the Village of Ryley.
Simpson previously served one term with the Village of Vegreville as an elected councillor.
He has a diploma in Radio & Television Broadcasting from NAIT, has a National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration, (Levels 1&2), Advanced Land Use Planning Certificate, Certified Local Government Manager designation, Agronomy (Level 1), Indigenous Canada Certificate, and a Certificate of Law.
“This is a very exciting time for Didsbury, for our community, our senior leadership team, and for council,” mayor Rhonda Hunter told the Albertan. “I am confident that Mr. Simpson will be a terrific fit here. He brings with him impressive municipal experience and leadership that will benefit the town and entire organization, qualities that council was seeking for this position.
“Council is confident that with the addition of Mr. Simpson to the already solid administrative team, the Town of Didsbury will continue its positive progressive momentum and growth as we move into the future.”
Town of Didsbury chief financial officer Amanda Riley has been the acting CAO since Gorner’s resignation.
In a split decision, the Town of Didsbury's council accepted Gorner's resignation at the end of a special council meeting on Monday, Feb. 24.
In one motion, council accepted Gorner’s resignation, with mayor Rhonda Hunter, deputy mayor Curt Engel and Coun. Bill Windsor voting in favour, and councillors Dorothy Moore and John Baswick voting against.
A second motion called for Amanda Riley, the town’s current chief financial officer, to be appointed acting CAO.
That motion passed with Hunter, Engel and Windsor voting in favour, and councillors Moore and Baswick voting against.
Neither motion made any reference as to why Gorner has resigned.
