Andy Brown set to depart for United Counties Feb. 3, Cahl Pominville to be interim CAO for North Grenville

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By Ashley Kulp

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EMC News - Monday evening's council meeting served as the last time Andy Brown would sit behind the council table as North Grenville's CAO.

Brown will be taking on the CAO position with the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville (UCLG) on Feb. 6 (current UCLG CAO Steven Silver departs in March). He will leave his post in North Grenville on Feb. 3.

During Monday night's council meeting, council formally passed a resolution which will see director of corporate services, Cahl Pominville, become the interim CAO for the time being, effective Feb. 4.

"As discussed with council, my recommendation is to appoint Cahl Pominville," Brown stated in his report. "He was the interim CAO prior to my employment with the municipality and therefore is familiar with the position."

Pominville will also receive the CAO's wage for the time he is in the position.

According to Brown, council has made the decision to hire a consulting company to help them search for a new CAO. They followed the same process back in 2005 when they recruited Brown.

"I'm working with council to ensure a smooth transition," he explained, noting that in addition to naming Pominville as acting CAO and hiring an executive search company, Brown is also helping council develop a transition work plan along with help from the municipality's senior management team. "With giving four weeks notice, it's allowed us to be well prepared."

COUNCILLORS SAY GOODBYE AND THANK YOU

During the meeting, council members also took the opportunity to thank Brown for his guidance and leadership over their terms in office.

Deputy mayor Ken Finnerty, who has served for many years on Kemptville Town Council and now North Grenville Council, remembered working with Brown's father, George, a former UCLG CAO himself.

"On Kemptville council in the olden days back in 1990, I remember when George Brown retired as CAO with the United Counties. I wish him all the best in taking over in his dad's shoes," he remarked. "It's been a pleasure working with you and I thank you very much."

Councillor Terry Butler remembers starting his political career when Brown came on as CAO with what he calls a "very green council and a very green mayor."

"He (Brown) inherited a senior management team in transition and with that he built a very strong administration," Butler commented. "He allowed us all to be strong individuals who all had one common denominator: respect for your leadership."

Referring to Brown as having a unique style where he could be a boss but also a friend, Butler said that North Grenville's booming development, having earned the moniker as the fastest growing municipality in eastern Ontario, "has his fingerprints all over it."

"His legacy here in North Grenville will be when all of us say over the course of the next year or two, 'What would Andy have done in this situation?'" he continued.

Councillor Barb Tobin also thanked Brown for his leadership and acting as a mentor when she was a new councillor. "I thank you for your time and the encouragement you've given all along and your support for us on council...you are one class act and I would work with you anywhere, anytime and don't forget, we know where you are," she said.

At the close of the meeting, Brown took a moment to thank all the councils he has worked with, staff, volunteers, investors and the community.

"At first when councillor Butler was talking I thought he was saying 'Anything that happens, blame it on Andy,'" he joked about Butler's earlier comments.

"I'll still be looking after North Grenville's interests, just in a different location," Brown added.

For a feature on the challenges and triumphs of Brown's last six and a half years as CAO, please see a related story in next week's Advance.

akulp@perfprint.ca




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