COBDEN — The candidates for the Chief Administrative Officer’s position in Whitewater Region have been whittled down to three from 31. It’s hoped a new CAO will be in place by year’s end.
Acting CAO and Treasurer Marsha Hawthorne said she was “a little” surprised at how many candidates there were considering the qualifications required for this position.
“We had some qualifications that were pretty stated,” she said.
The hiring committee consisted of all but two council members and Ms.Hawthorne. Council members were Mayor Hal Johnson, Reeve Terry Millar, and councillors Charlene Jackson, Chris Olmstead and Cathy Regier.
Prior to the interviews, the candidates had been narrowed down to eight and then down to the current three, Ms. Hawthorne said. She noted there were local people who applied for the position as well as some from out of town.
“The first interview process took place Nov. 8 with the three, and we are having a second round of interviews,” she said. “The first was today (Wednesday, Nov. 16) and we’ll have the second one tomorrow.”
Ms. Hawthorne noted for the second round of interviews, all council members will be included.
“We’re hoping to let the candidates know by next week and obviously give (one of) them the contract and see what goes on from there,” she said, adding, ““I did not apply. I enjoy my treasury job. It will be nice to get back to one job.”
Ms. Hawthorne said while doing both jobs, she has learned a lot, while also having fun, “I’m probably the worst at delegating, so I like to do it all myself.”
Explaining, she said while she’s learning the job, it’s difficult for her to give the job to someone else if she can’t explain to them what needs to be done. She has been the acting CAO since June 24th.
“I did all that one my own, just trying to learn it,” she said. “I really enjoyed it. I’m tired. It was definitely a learning curve for me. I look back now and I don’t regret anything. I accepted the acting.”
And while Ms. Hawthorne finds it difficult to delegate, she added, “This staff here, this municipality, we are seriously like a family.
“I’ll have a busy busy day and I’ll have Doug come up, I’ll have Tali come up, and Sandra, and Karen, Steve, you know, everybody, asking what can I do, what we can we do to help you? And then I’ll say, what can I do to help you?
“We all work together,” Ms. Hawthorne said. “It is really really amazing. I’m blessed. That helped out a big part of it, because I have the support from them.
“We all wanted to get to the end goal, and that was to have a new CAO, and we’re almost there.”
