The leadership torch is being passed in Saugeen Shores.
The town’s new Chief Administrative Officer is learning the ropes, while the retiring CAO is looking back on a long career in municipal government.
Ron Brown has been the Chief Administrative Officer for Saugeen Shores since the municipality was formed in 1999, his 35 year career in municipal government began in Paisley in 1975, then in Wiarton and Southampton.
Brown says in Saugeen Shores, he’s always been fortunate to have good mayors, councillors, and staff to work with and says they were all committed to making the new municipality work after amalgamation.
He says Saugeen Shores has benefitted from a strong local economy, spurred on by Bruce Power and new commercial and residential development.
Brown doesn’t take personal credit for his successful years in municipal leadership.
He says it’s always exciting to build new facilities like municipal offices, arenas, and police stations, but what really matters is making sure the people are happy with how the municipality is being run.
Councillors are paying tribute to Brown’s contributions to Saugeen Shores— Councillor Luke Charbonneau even calling him the town’s founding father.
Councillor Thead Seaman, who worked with Brown in Southampton, recalls an excellent working relatinship and good advice.
Councillor Diane Huber remembers working for Brown as a summer student for the former Village of Paisley.
Mayor Mike Smith appreciates Brown’s guidance and remembers being one of the councillors who decided to hire him as CAO after amalgamation.
Brown’s last day of work for Saugeen Shores is September 11, by that time, new Chief Administrative Officer Larry Allison will have been on the job since August 17, learning the ropes.
Brown, originally from Newfoundland, worked in banking for ten years before going into municipal government. He also had a stint as a manager for a major retail chain.
As for what he’ll do next, he says he plans to take it easy for a while but wants to return to some sort of part time work.
Allison previously served as CAO for Innisfil near Barrie and says it is similar to Saugeen Shores because it has 32 kilometres of coastline along Lake Simcoe, and is also a restructured municipality.
Allison is already making himself aware of the biggest issue facing the town right now, and that’s the question over installing sanitary sewers north of the Saugeen River in Southampton.
He says he attended one of the public information sessions (PIC) on the issue to get a perspective on the sentiment of the community and is watching to see how the environmental assessment process unfolds.
Allison says he’s looking forward to working in the community for a long time and has been made to feel welcome and looks forward to “getting his feet wet” over the next couple of weeks.