Town council has announced its selection for a new chief administrative officer (CAO), who will take over the position as of May 8.
Town council has announced its selection for a new chief administrative officer (CAO), who will take over the position as of May 8.
Michael Merritt is currently the CAO of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, a large rural municipality of nearly 100,000 residents, where he has served since October 2014.
He replaces interim CAO Pat Vincent. The town's previous CAO, Norm McInnis, moved to Fernie, B.C. last fall, to take the CAO job there.
Merritt has worked with provincial governments in three provinces, including 15 years as a civil servant in several ministries in New Brunswick, and in Housing and Municipal Affairs in Ontario. Merritt is, however, no stranger to Alberta, having more recently served as an assistant deputy minister in the province's Department of Municipal Affairs.
"I think I am very well suited to come into this community and provide leadership at the administrative level," said Merritt by phone. "And to work with the mayor and council on developing and executing good policy decisions."
"He comes with an extensive knowledge already in political background and the needs of municipalities," said Mayor Judy Dahl. "His skills and his experience in the past (are) being able to work with not only the administrative side, but being able to understand the importance of who to reach out to when it comes to building relationships with the province."
While the CBC reported that Merritt would be leaving his Cape Breton post for a move to Calgary, the mayor confirmed that he will be purchasing a home and residing in Olds. He has two daughters who now live and work in Calgary.
"I'm very excited about coming back to Alberta," said Merritt. "It's a place where I've spent more than half of my adult life."
According to the mayor, the first order of business for the new CAO will be next year's budget, with service level reviews beginning as soon as he arrives.
Merritt is set to take up his new post on May 8, and will be present for that afternoon's council meeting, before being formally introduced to his new administration at a staff barbecue the following day.
"We've got a perfect fit for the Town of Olds and the municipality with this gentleman," said Mayor Dahl. "He certainly does have a jovial-ness to him and will bring a lot of experience to share with the staff here."
"He comes with an extensive knowledge already in political background and the needs of municipalities."JUDY DAHLMAYORTOWN OF OLDS
