Richard McGee has been named the new chief administration officer (CAO) for the Town of Kirkland Lake.
McGee served five years as CAO-clerk for the Town of Deep River in the Ottawa Valley and previously held both elected and appointed positions in municipal government in southern Ontario.
“I speak on behalf of all of council when I say that we are pleased to be able to attract to Kirkland Lake someone with the experience and energy that Ric McGee will bring to this position,” said Mayor Pat Kiely in a news release.
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“We think it will bode well for residents, businesses, and the staff that deliver the vital services provided by the Town.”
In the release, McGee was said to be “eagerly looking forward to the position and assisting and advising council and staff in implementing the decisions that council will be making based on its work with the strategic plan, organizational review, and yet to be completed service delivery review.”
His appointment takes effect March 2. Upon arrival, McGee will be thrust in the middle of a strategic and operational review being undertaken by the municipality.
StrategyCorp, an Ottawa and Toronto municipal consulting firm, is steering the process and is recommending operational changes.
Wilfred Hass, the town’s economic development and tourism, had been filling in an interim basis since 2018 when Peter Avgoutis left after only eight months on the job.
The search process for a new CAO began in November.
