Centre Wellington’s economic development officer is leaving to become the chief administrative officer of the Municipality of McDougall.
It is located in the district of Parry Sound and was named after William McDougall, one of the Fathers of Confederation. In 2000 that township merged with the unorganized Township of Ferguson to create the Municipality of McDougall.
Rushton said the municipality has about 2,700 people and it includes some small islands and is attractive to tourists.
He said in an interview on Monday night the job offer came quickly. He was approached by a hiring firm about the position.
He visited the municipality and within a couple of days he was offered the job. That work includes being clerk, but he said that part of the job description will likely change.
Rushton has been with Centre Wellington Township since about 2004.
He was hired on a contract basis and council made it a permanent job about two years later.
Rushton said in looking at his career he had the option of considering a larger municipality than Centre Wellington and doing more economic development work, or considering the McDougall offer.
“I don’t like big communities,” he said with a grin, adding MacDougall is small and, “It’s a good stepping stone. They wanted financial expertise and I do have an accounting background.”
Rushton starts his new job on July 9.
