MacMurtry Middleton’s acting CAO

By Heather Killen

The Spectator

NovaNewsNow.com

The CAO shuffle continues in the Town of Middleton.

At a special meeting called on July 21, Marianne Daine, acting chief administrative officer resigned this position citing health reasons. Daine will remain in her duties as financial officer for the Town.

Clayton MacMurtry, director of public works, was appointed by council to fill in as acting CAO. Mayor Calvin Eddy, Deputy Mayor Vera Errington, and Councillor Lorne Brown will serve on the hiring committee interviewing candidates for the chief administrative officer position.

This position was left vacant on June 24, when council recommended that its chief administrative officer, Jemma Lambert, be immediately dismissed.

At this special July 21 meeting, council also reviewed the audited financial statements provided by Harold Duffett, of the accounting firm Kent and Duffett.

Duffett noted that one change in this year’s report from other years is due to new accounting practices introduced by the water utility.

He also recommended that while the past practice of borrowing from reserves to balance the operating budget is within municipal guidelines, it would be beneficial for the town to maintain a larger reserve.

Council moved to accept the auditor’s statement, but Councillor Brian Neville questioned whether the auditor’s accompanying letter should be public information.

Harold Duffett answered that he thought Neville’s question was unusual, and Neville responded that he disagreed with some of the comments in the letter and required further discussion with Duffett regarding these comments.

Following a 30-minute in camera meeting with Duffett, council moved to table the matter until it meets with its solicitor on August 5.

This is the fourth in camera meeting council has held since June 2, amounting to about 3.5 hours in closed door sessions.

In 1999, the town was reviewed under the Freedom of Information Act for withholding financial

information pertaining to its 1999-2000 budget.

According the Review Officer’s report, the town cited “an optional provision” that gave them discretionary power to determine whether meetings would be open or closed to the public.

The Review Officer determined that the ‘optional provision’ for private meetings was not valid under the Municipal Government Act.

The officer concluded, “While I cannot recommend the information sought be made accessible to the Applicant because it already is, I recommend that the council review its policy on in-camera meetings and meet its obligations under Part XX of the Act.”

As of press time, The Spectator was unable to obtain a copy of the audited financial statements and an accompanying letter from Kent and Duffett.