New Charlottetown CAO will bring back trust in municipal government, says mayor
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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown stated Feb. 22 that the town’s new full-time chief administrative officer (CAO) alerts a restart for the municipality.
Council met in personal on Feb. 21 and voted to rent Eleanor Mohammed, who’s at the moment employed by the P.E.I. authorities as a Lands Use and Safety Act specialist.
Mohammed was one in every of three finalists picked by the Ontario-based recruiting agency of Boyden Canada.
Metropolis council met all three candidates and selected Mohammed.
“Eleanor has a giant planning background,’’ Brown stated when requested why Mohammed was chosen. “She may be very certified in planning, she has an environmental background – two areas which can be crucial. Our sole income comes from the property tax space, so she’ll carry that experience to the desk. We’re additionally zero emissions by 2040 so this provides to that element.’’
Brown stated she will even assist restore a few of the belief misplaced between the town and its residents following the firing of former CAO Peter Kelly in Might 2022 and the following investigation that interim CAO Donna Waddell launched instantly afterwards into 18 allegations made by former deputy CAO Scott Messervey.
Messervey alleged the town wasn’t following its personal monetary guidelines or the Municipal Authorities Act (MGA).
“That is about regaining the belief and restarting the whole lot we’re doing as a municipal authorities,’’ Brown stated.
BDO Canada performed a forensic audit of the town books and delivered a report back to council in personal earlier this month, a report that also hasn’t been made public.
“It is going to be made public. We’re nonetheless it with a authorized lens. There are authorized points we now have to handle earlier than it’s launched. (Mohammed) can be engaged with a part of the response as to how we cope with any path ahead,’’ the mayor stated.
Waddell can be staying as interim CAO till March 31 to assist Mohammed transition into the function.
SaltWire Community contacted Mohammed on Feb. 22 about her new job. Mohammed stated she begins coaching with the town March 20 and formally takes over April 3. She declined to remark additional till she begins.
Emilee MacLeod, the town’s supervisor of human assets, stated Mohammed signed an employment settlement with the town, so her contract doesn’t expire at any set time.
Brown stated the CAO is the one place council hires, including she’ll be subjected to annual efficiency opinions.
Mohammed, who has spent 20 years within the public, personal and not-for-profit sectors, together with as a senior-level municipal administrator, has spent the previous yr with the P.E.I. authorities.
Previous to shifting to the Island final yr, Mohammed was deputy CAO in Beaumont, Alta. Moreover, she has served as president of the Canadian Institute of Planners and co-chair of the United Nations Habitat Professionals Discussion board. She is at the moment the president of the Commonwealth Affiliation of Planners.
Because the senior administrator for Charlottetown, the CAO oversees a municipal price range of greater than $180 million and a staff of greater than 400 staff.
Dave Stewart is a reporter with SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He might be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @DveStewart
