Two senior staff members here are on short-term medical leave and town officials are not saying why – or for how long.
CAO Kathryn Ironmonger has been off since the last week of May.
Several councillors, including Mayor Allan Alls, were asked multiple times about the nature of Ironmonger’s absence, but they would not comment.
Alls would not discuss apparent animosity between Ironmonger and councillors. He also would not comment on whether the CAO’s leave has anything to do with a complaint discussed by council in closed session on June 7.
“She’s off sick until the end of July, that’s all I can tell you. I really can’t say any more,” Alls said following the June 21 council meeting.
However, one councillor said the public should be provided at least a basic explanation.
“The people of our town are paying for a high-priced CAO who they expect to deliver,” said councillor Matt Sammut, who declared a conflict of interest during the complaint discussion in closed session on June 7.
“And if she’s not there, then we should at least advise them why our chief is not working.”
Sammut added he does not know the reasons for Ironmonger’s absence.
Multiple attempts to contact Ironmonger were unsuccessful.
CBO also off – help hired
Carol House, chief building official, is also on a short-term medical leave. She has also been off since the end of May.
Clerk Dina Lundy has been filling the CAO’s role, but now the town is looking for some temporary help.
“We have a time limit of 10 days to get the permits, so it’s just a matter of quick permit help,” explained Lundy.
A special closed council meeting was called on June 23 about personal matters regarding the building and administration departments.
After the closed meeting, council passed a bylaw to appoint Andrew Hartholt as chief building official (CBO) on an as-needed basis. Councillor Rob Smith was absent.
Hartholt was the CBO for Erin before he left last November for a role in Milton. House was hired in January.
A bylaw agreement between Erin and Guelph-Eramosa would normally mean Erin would look to its neighbour for help with CBO duties, but Lundy explained Guelph-Eramosa is too busy.
More help coming
Alls also mentioned on June 23 the town would look into hiring “a temporary CAO … to help Dina here, who’s slightly overloaded right now.”
The next day Alls said the town has hired Derek McCaughan, formerly a senior manager with Guelph, as the town’s temporary CAO, effective June 27.
