McDonald departs, CAO title added to treasurer

Thursday, July 23, just after 9 a.m., the Municipality of South Dundas issued a joint statement with South Dundas chief administrative officer Stephen McDonald, announcing McDonald’s departure from the key position that he has held for nearly 10 years.

According to the statement, “they have mutually decided to part ways.”

This statement followed two in camera meetings held to discuss personnel issues. One was a special meeting held July 15, and the other was held at the end of the July 21, regular council meeting.

McDonald did not attend the July 21 council meeting. The Leader was told it was because he was on vacation.

This week, South Dundas council held another in camera meeting, again for personnel purposes – to appoint an acting CAO.

The last time South Dundas had a CAO resign, it took six months to fill the position. 

“The position requires a special blend of skills to work collectively with elected officials providing leadership and vision to the corporation through the diverse challenges facing a municipality,” according to the 2005 job posting at the time that McDonald was interviewed and hired. 

Reporting to and advising council on all matters, the CAO coordinates senior staff and ensures the implementation of council’s direction.

South Dundas clerk Brenda Brunt held the title of acting CAO during the six month transition between former CAO Andy Brown and CAO McDonald.

Succession planning was on the radar of the last council and staff. So, council had the opportunity to fill the position from within South Dundas’ current ranks, and did so at a special meeting held July 28. 

Following that in camera meeting, South Dundas council announced that they have appointed treasurer Shannon Geraghty (pictured) as acting CAO/treasurer. 

“Mr. Geraghty will be taking on the additional role of acting CAO until the end of 2015,” reads the release.

He has been South Dundas treasurer since 2008. 

Geraghty is currently in year two of a four year Masters of Public Administration program at Western University. 

He holds a masters certificate in municipal leadership, a business accounting diploma from St. Lawrence College and has completed various municipal courses including tax administration and municipal accounting and finance.

Through succession planning, Geraghty knew that one day he would get the nod to fill this position. 

“This is sooner than I expected,” Geraghty told The Leader. “But Steve has left us in a good place. I have the utmost respect for Steve McDonald. He gave me this opportunity.”

Geraghty says his plan is to take a look at the projects on the table and to move forward. 

“We have a great staff here,” says Geraghty, adding that delegation will be an important part of him being able to handle the combined workload of the two positions.

“We really need to get council and staff working together,” he said.

For now, the plan is for Geraghty to hold the two titles, until the end of the year. At that point, council will decide if they will make Geraghty’s appointment permanent or look at other options. 

Departing CAO McDonald came to South Dundas October 11, 2005, following three years as CAO/Clerk for Cardinal/Edwardsburgh.

McDonald was a 1982 graduate of the Urban Affairs program at Fanshawe College in London. His municipal career started in the Township of Southwest Oxford where he was deputy treasurer. He went on to work as clerk for Aldborough before becoming administrator and clerk/treasurer for Elizabethtown (13 years). He moved on to become director of corporate services for East Gwillimbury. before becoming CAO/clerk for Cardinal Edwardsburgh in 2002.

McDonald is originally from Cornwall, and saw South Dundas as an opportunity to move closer to his roots. 

When he was hired he called South Dundas, “a dynamic area with lots of potential.” 

The hiring committee that selected McDonald consisted of Brenda Brunt, who was clerk and acting CAO at the time, then mayor Lyle Van Allen and councillors Bill Ewing and Sandra Bailey.

McDonald led South Dundas as CAO through the term of former South Dundas mayor Lyle Van Allen, through the term of mayor Charles Barkley, which was cut short by Barkley’s death, and finished out by former mayor Robert Gillard, and then through the entire term of former mayor Steven Byvelds. 

McDonald is ending his time as South Dundas CAO only eight months into South Dundas mayor Evonne Delegarde’s first four year term as South Dundas mayor. 

In a statement, council thanked McDonald for his 10 years of service to the Municipality and its residents.