The new chief administrative officer for the Town of Olds can't wait to get started, although he says he'll need some time to become familiar with the community.
As reported earlier in the Albertan, Michael Merritt, a former assistant deputy minister for the Alberta government and the current CAO for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in northern Nova Scotia, will take the reins from interim CAO Pat Vincent at the beginning of May.
"I'm very excited about coming back to Alberta," said Merritt. "I knew Olds is one of the more progressive municipalities - it was a place that has always been somewhat attractive; it's done very well in good and bad times."
ROLE OF THE CAO
While mayors and town councillors are well known to their communities, the CAO tends to remain in the shadows.
Often called the town manager in other municipalities, their role is to serve the elected officials, says Vincent, and to ensure "a smooth-functioning machine that makes things happen." Council provides oversight, while town staff -- directed by the CAO -- put those plans into action.
"I've always said, sometimes factiously and tongue-in-cheek, that the CAO is the hired gun," said Vincent. "I'm there to cover their backs."
LONG TRANSITION
The search to replace previous CAO Norm McInnis began last November. Olds has since seen two interim CAOs take charge: Rick McDonald served from November to January, then Vincent took over on Feb. 13, and was contracted to remain until the position was permanently filled.
Vincent, who retired in 2015 after 35 years as CAO for several Albertan towns, knows Merritt both personally and professionally, and said he is happy with the appointment.
"I'm excited for the town - I think that they have one of the best possible candidates for CAO," he said.
TO CAPE BRETON AND BACK
Before taking up his Cape Breton post three years ago, Merritt worked for the Alberta government for 12 years, first as executive director of municipal services, then as assistant deputy minister for local government services. Previously, he also worked for the province of New Brunswick in municipal affairs.
Merritt said that, after working 70-hour weeks in his past two positions, he was looking for a change of pace, and a chance to spend more time with family, which includes two daughters who live in Calgary.
"It seemed like an excellent fit for what I'm looking forward to do," he said, "continuing to work hard, but also hopefully have a bit more of a work-life balance."
Merritt said his first order of business is to become acquainted with the community, meeting with council and town staff to determine key issues that need to be addressed.
"And to never make a rash decision, or rush judgments into those things," he said. "Basically, take the time to learn about the municipality, about the community and to engage (with it)."
STRONG ORGANIZATION
Vincent, who will pass the torch to Merritt on May 8, said he's had a positive experience working for Olds, and that the municipality is a very strong organization
"They run a very good department, are dedicated civic servants and it's been a pleasure to work with them," he said.
Vincent added that he was pleased with how the council operates, saying that councillors' different viewpoints led to good debate.
"They don't always agree on everything," he said, "so that ensures that public policy is well scrutinized and well discussed."
Vincent noted that, with 70 staff, Olds has a relatively small number of municipal employees. He said the benchmark is one employee per 100 residents, which would mean 92 for a town the size of Olds.
Despite that efficiency, Vincent said that most CAOs have a philosophy that includes constant improvement, and he expects Merritt will also be looking for opportunities to build a more effective organization.
"I anticipate that there will be some changes," said Vincent. "It will depend on (Merritt's) take on the organization, and how it might be best served under his leadership."
BREATHING EASIER
While there's a bit of apprehension towards the unknown, Vincent said there's also a sense of excitement around town hall, now that people know who will be taking up the post and when.
"(They are) a lot more relaxed and looking forward to the completion of this transition period."
Perhaps it's his successor that will now start feeling the pressure.
"He is a very amiable individual, very approachable, he's got a wicked sense of humour," said Vincent. "His only downfall is that he's a diehard Toronto Maple Leafs fan."
