GUELPH – County of Wellington CAO Scott Wilson was recognized for 25 years of service at the March 30 county council meeting.
Warden Andy Lennox noted the meeting marked 25 years “to the day” since Wilson joined the county staff.
Lennox also pointed out Wilson, who has attended well over 200 meetings in the council chamber over the years, beat out 65 other competitors for the job when he was hired in 1997 (Wilson actually started work for the county on March 30, 1998).
“I think the county’s been incredibly well-served by Scott,” said long-time county councillor Chris White.
White cited the low staff turnover level during Wilson’s tenure as one measure of his effectiveness.
“The turnover is a reflection of job satisfaction,” said White.
“And I also believe … that most residents are pretty pleased with the services they get in the County of Wellington. It’s well served. And you can’t take that for granted. It doesn’t just happen. You’re as good as your people.”
Councillor Doug Breen, who was first elected to municipal council the year Wilson was hired, credited the CAO with improving relations between the county and its member municipalities.
“There was a lot of animosity, there was a lot of bitterness, a lot of ‘Where did the tax dollars go?’” Breen said. “The county in many ways, for the township level, it almost become a scapegoat for things that the townships didn’t want to have to deal with. And I think, through your leadership more than any other, that wound has been healed.
“I think that you managed to do more than just build the county … you have an awful lot of influence on the townships as well.”
Breen added Wilson also went through the amalgamation process with the county and lower-tier municipalities in the late 1990s.
“You took a ragtag group of, 17 I guess at the time, townships, formed it into a completely different format and it’s working better than it ever has and that has a lot to do with yourself,” said Breen.
