Wellington North treasurer Mike Givens will take over the township’s top post after he was hired by council as the new chief administrative officer (CAO) at Monday evening’s council meeting.
Givens, who replaces former CAO Lori Heinbuch, has been acting CAO for the municipality since Heinbuch was fired in May. He was hired as township treasurer in August of last year.
“We went through a long process,” Mayor Ray Tout said on Sept. 9 of the selection process to find a new CAO that started with 40 applicants.
“It went to three final interviews. We think we have the right person for the right job,” Tout told those attending the council meeting, including Givens, after the hiring was announced.
“We’re willing to work with you as you are willing to work with us. I think you’re a strong piece of the team.”
The township’s selection committee was made up of Tout, councillor Andy Lennox and outside consultant Nigel Bellchamber, with council giving the hiring its final stamp of approval.
Bellchamber said he assisted with negotiations for a contract for the new CAO. In an uncommon move, council released details of Given’s employment agreement, which includes a starting salary of $95,300 and a seven-month probation period with a performance review after 180 days. Upon successful completion of the probation period, the CAO salary will go to $100,300 and move to $105,600 within a year based on “satisfactory performance.” The top salary for the post is $117,000.
Beginning in 2015 the CAO salary grid will be adjusted at the same rate as the non-union salary grid and in 2016 an independent market competitiveness review will be undertaken by an external party who will report results to council with a recommendation.
Holidays will be earned in the first year at the rate of four (plus one) weeks, with the additional week to reflect the normal requirement for overtime hours in this position.
Four years from the end of the probationary period, the entitlement would increase to five weeks plus one week in lieu time, which will have no cash value under any circumstances.
Should Givens be dismissed without cause prior to the end of the probationary period he would be entitled to a severance pay of eight months’ salary. Once probation has been successfully completed, termination without cause would include a severance package equivalent to 14 months’ salary, escalating one month per year to a maximum of 18 months.
Givens will also be charged with finding a new treasurer for Wellington North.
“His number one priority is starting the process of looking for a treasurer,” Tout told the Advertiser after the meeting. “One of the benefits is we’re going to have a CAO who knows the treasury business.”
Givens came to Wellington North from Mapleton Township, where he served as director of finance for five years. He is a graduate of Fanshawe College and holds a diploma in business administration-accounting.
Prior to working in Mapleton, Givens was employed by Howick Township and at the Canada Revenue Agency. He and his wife Sarah have two children.
