Mayor George Bridge announced last week that council has appointed Bill White to the position of Chief Administrative Officer and Clerk with the town, effective April 4.
“We interviewed several good candidates, but council was unanimous that Bill was our first choice,” said Bridge.
“He has done the job and he has worked in a municipality very much like ours. We need that experience and his proven leadership qualities, and we knew it.
“It’s a tribute to Minto that he had heard good things about our staff and was excited by what we are doing in downtown revitalization. He knows we have some challenges, but he has the experience to help us work through them.”
A land-use planner by training, White spent much of his career with Owen Sound, where he rose through the ranks to become the Director of Community Services.
In that capacity for seven years, he had overall responsibility for planning, building, economic development, tourism and recreation.
He went to the Township of Georgian Bluffs in 2007 as Chief Administrative Officer, where he worked with council and staff on its first strategic plan, an organizational review and keeping tax rates low.
“I am excited by what I see in Minto,” said White. “Minto has clearly been a leader in areas like strategic planning, promoting its cultural base, attracting development and facing financial challenges that are common across small-town Ontario.
“My wife and I love a rural, small town environment and we are looking forward to being involved in community events.”
White and his wife, Teri, live on a farm in the Markdale area, where she works as a horse trainer. He has two university-age children.
As CAO, he will be the head of the town staff and is chief policy advisor, reporting directly to the mayor and council.
As clerk, he will have responsibility for meeting procedures and minutes, council agendas, public notices, agreements with property developers and municipal elections.
Bridge added, “With his CAO experience and his planning background, he knows how things are done and he has a problem-solving approach to things.
“We believe that he will keep developing the strong skills and teamwork we already have on our staff, and help them to keep promoting the economic potential of Minto.”
