WELLINGTON NORTH – This township is on the lookout for another senior level staffer following CAO Mike Givens’ resignation, announced publicly on March 23.
Givens has accepted a new position as CAO with the Township of Perth East, replacing that township’s retiring CAO Theresa Campbell, after serving as Wellington North CAO for almost a decade.
In mid-2012, Givens started as Wellington North’s treasurer and was appointed CAO the following year to replace former CAO Lori Heinbuch, who was fired in May 2013.
The approaching departure of Givens marks the second time in weeks Wellington North has lost a top staff member.
Former finance director and treasurer Adam McNabb left for a similar role in Centre Wellington, which he started on March 14.
Before coming to Wellington North, Givens was Mapleton’s finance director for five years and prior to that he was with Howick Township and the Canada Revenue Agency.
In council and committee meetings broadcast online throughout the pandemic, Givens’ facial expressions would often signal the sober thought to come and advice waiting to be given once councillors had weighed in on the issues of the day.
He was relied upon regularly to provide insight, clarify complex decisions, and provide direction.
In a phone call with the Advertiser, Givens said his announcement, made to council in a closed session following Monday night’s regular meeting, was received in a “state of shock.”
“I’ve always tried to make sure that if I was making a change, it was because it was an opportunity as opposed to somebody showing me the door,” he said.
“I’ve reached a point in my life [where] either I’m going to stay here until my career’s over or I need to make a change, so that was part of the thinking,” Givens explained, adding he hadn’t envisioned being anywhere long-term many years ago.
Although both municipalities are similar in demographics and geography, Perth East presents additional lower-tier components to manage, such as libraries and landfills, which are handled here at the county level.
Givens also lives in Perth County, which he said is part of the draw.
“It gets me a little closer to my home base … it gives me a little bit less of a commute and a little bit more opportunity to spend with family and friends, just based on that commute alone.”
Speaking to the timing of the move, he said it aligns with the needs of Perth East, referring to the current CAO’s approaching retirement.
Givens will be staying on with Wellington North until May 31, providing two months to help smooth a transition to new leadership as municipalities approach an October election.
“The next step is for me to work with council in terms of the recruitment process,” he said. “I’ve got some ideas, but I haven’t had the appropriate time yet to have that conversation with the mayor and the rest of council.”
Givens said Wellington North has much to look forward to and affirmed his faith in councillors and staff to ensure continued success.
There’s a level of comfort in having worked here for close to a decade, getting to know the people and building connections during that time.
Givens admitted to “some anxiety” about the change but said, overall, he feels “very good” about what has been accomplished.
“Initially we were just trying to create more of a collaborative team effort and create a trusting relationship among council and staff and I think that’s probably the greatest accomplishment I feel a part of,” he said, adding there’s now “a lot” of respect between both sides.
Givens also mentioned helping the municipality prepare for growth and accomplish recreational project goals, such as spending dollars to refurbish the Arthur Community Centre, and investing in infrastructure.
“I think recreation sometimes becomes the after-thought,” he said. “The financial background that has allowed us to do that; I’m super proud to have been a part of.”
The search begins
As for challenges awaiting whoever replaces Givens – he nor Lennox had anyone in mind when asked – they largely hinge on population and housing growth, and the added demand for services as a result.
In a separate interview with the Advertiser on Wednesday, Mayor Andy Lennox said council was “disappointed” to hear of the decision.
The process to hire a new CAO hasn’t yet been determined and will require council’s endorsement to proceed.
Lennox did say, however, that the township is likely to require outside assistance to find the right candidate.
“The CAO is the top job, certainly the top staff job, and to ask staff to participate in that process is kind of an awkward situation. And members of council, it’s a part-time thing for us, so I think probably we’re going to need some outside assistance,” he explained.
An interim CAO could also be appointed internally or externally to temporarily shoulder the day-to-day responsibilities in Givens’ absence.
“We haven’t really had a chance to discuss all those options and decide what’s appropriate,” Lennox said, adding he would be having discussions with senior staff.
The mayor lauded Givens’ teamwork, fiscal responsibility and thought-out decisions, referring to him as a “strong player.”
“He’s certainly been an important part of our organization for quite a while now,” Lennox said.
“We wish him well in his future career.”
