Council fires County CAO
Administrator | Mar 27, 2015 | Comments 78
Merlin Dewing
Prince Edward County’s Chief Administrative Officer was fired today following a special council meeting this afternoon.
Chief Administrative Officer Merlin J. Dewing came to an agreement with council this afternoon, that will result in Dewing’s immediate departure. Dewing took on the role in November 2011. He had served as the CAO at Sioux Lookout since 2005.
“Council agrees with Dewing that his leadership approach no longer aligns with the vision the current council has for the County of Prince Edward,” said Mayor Robert Quaiff. “As a result, council elected to end Dewing’s term as CAO, in accordance with the early termination clause of his contract.
“We are grateful for the contributions Dewing has made during his term,” the mayor added. “His assertive guidance led the County through many difficult, but necessary changes.”
The Chief Administrative Officer is an appointment under the municipal act. This position is the most senior administrative person of the management team and is responsible directly to council for overseeing the day-to-day business affairs of the municipality.
Council, the mayor said, reached a decision that Dewing’s leadership style no longer aligns with council’s preferred corporate administration approach.
“In order for council to maintain focus on our goals and priorities, we have come to a mutual agreement that Dewing’s term as CAO should conclude.”
Council has appointed James Hepburn, Director of Finance, as Acting CAO, allowing municipal operations and projects to move forward while council determines its preferred approach to fill the CAO position.
Arrangements for interim administrative leadership were made through the County’s Acting CAO program, an initiative spearheaded by Dewing.
During his 3½ years as CAO, Dewing led the municipality through a substantial service delivery review and corporate realignment process, streamlining municipal departments and realizing annual savings upwards of $1.1 million in wages and benefits.
A press statement from the County noted Dewing’s dedication to enhancing customer service, improving efficiency and effectiveness of County practices and procedures. “He also invested significantly in employee development and recognition, initiating the municipality’s award-winning Career Development Program with the goal of improving employee attraction and retention,” the statement read.
Filed Under: Local News
It was designed to draw attention to the word assumption. I guess it worked not with you Marie. Sorry.
Did Wolf imply that someone is an ASS on Countylive?
Is that OK by this sites moderation standards?
Id check again on Wellington times. I just got the paper today. and
it says he was fired because he would not Rehire the roads supervisor.
He saved Picton over 1 million dollars
guess the county was worried they would lose jobs. so fired him before he saved anymore money is my guess
If the councilor did communicate in that manner as reported, resignation from Council would be in order.
The Times article says a councilor sent an e-mail to all employees stating “who’s next”! Could such an inappropriate communication have taken place?
Hearing that Council rather than performing their role as governance involved itself in the everyday administration of staff. If that is so it is a slippery slope.
They do moderate comments, especially if your comment doesn’t tow the same line as Marnie’s.
There are many people reading, and reading comments. They just don’t comment. So the readership is more then 9. wow.
There are facebook groups (Pec yardsales) and sometimes you see comments there (about water prices)
council is reading.
PEC FAN: ” Instead of spreading your negative thoughts and feelings, have you ever, oh I don’t know volunteered your time to sit on a Committee or cause and actually work together with people for a common good? ”
Do you have evidence to support the above claim ? Or is this just your ASSumption ?
Well I just went quickly down the list of posters and arrived at TWENTY (20). This municipality is not run effectively Fan. So when you see regret and disappointment with the firing that could be positive rather than negative as we are tired of irresponsible management at the Council level! And if you are County born and know how to shine apples your shelf life increases drastically! Check the record and your math when commenting on posters!
Well aren’t you the presumptuous one PEC Fan. You know all about what we do in our free time and how we think. Apparently you lurk on this site only to criticize the moderator and the eight or nine who participate when topics of interest to them are under discussion. Odd that you should accuse others of negativity. We pale in comparison. If you are so offended by the comments here and disgusted with the moderator why not join a club or do something for community betterment instead of spending your free time on a site that is so disappointing to you.
First off, I think its terrific that the same 8 people comment here on absolutely everything! Its amazing that this site can continue when its readership is only 9 people (the 8 people who continue to comment of things plus the moderator at Countylive, who doesn’t really moderate)
Instead of spreading your negative thoughts and feelings, have you ever, oh I don’t know volunteered your time to sit on a Committee or cause and actually work together with people for a common good?
Or are people like you Marnie, Susan, and the rest simply happier being ArmChair Quarterbacks and just continue to be negative about everything?
Secondly, I think its pretty terrible on countylive’s part not to actually oh I don’t know moderate anything here! Hello Countylive are you actually watching and caring about some of the comments listed here?
Thirdly. A number of you arm chair quarterbacks talk about how you want things to change, yet you fret when the notion of someone who wasn’t born and bred in Prince Edward County gets involved and becomes an agent of change?
What are you scared of? It takes fresh ideas and fresh perspectives to make positive change. It takes people working together for a common goal. It takes people to ignore the “troubles” of the past and to unite for the betterment of all.
Its a shame that Mr. Dewing was let go by Council. If you remove your Prince Edward County’s Rose Coloured Glasses and actually examine the fact that there has been a major turnover of CAO’s in other Municipalities, you’ll know that a shelf life for the position isn’t all that long.
But then what do I know? I love Prince Edward County, I truly do.
I just don’t really like negative people like the 8 of you!
So we gave up management of our McFarland Home and now we have lost the leader of the Corporation! And they place the penny counter in an acting role. This is quite the start for our new Council.
Yeah, that’s Rick. Once he reported on a council meeting that he did not even attend.
Maybe we should find out the details before you linch the council .
I am looking forward to this week’s Wellington Times: Rick has a great track record of getting behind the scene at County Council.
Hey Argyle…We would take him back in a second! Unfortunately, Merlin and our previous mayor (who I might add, lost this last election by a huge landslide!), did not see eye to eye. Our town just coasted along as the current CAO kissed the mayor’s a**. Nothing significant has been done here since Merlin left. He made things happen, and unfortunately some of the old timers and locals couldn’t handle that. It seems to be the same thing that is happening in PEC. I agree with Susan…”Mr. Dewing was too smart for this council to deal with”.
The mayor stated “we have reached a decision that Dewing’s leadership style no longer aligns with Council’s preferred corporate administration approach”. This begs the question of what approach Council prefers. Surely they aren’t suggesting reverting to the approach taken by the last CAO. I wonder if they have any clear approach at all.
While I do not endorse the expenditure of tax dollars neither do I see any value in allowing Merlin’s contract to continue if he was not doing the job for which council had hired him. Sometimes you just have to cut your losses. We cannot know all of the details leading to Dewing’s departure. Perhaps if we did we could better appreciate why council made this call. A few short weeks ago people were urging a clean sweep of council and loudly proclaiming that new faces and fresh blood were what we need. Pointless to complain now.
Apparently you support this payout of tax dollars.
Why bother with a council at all if the hired gun is to call the shots? Do we expect councillors to become the CAO’s yes men?
I agree with you, Susan. Council is just looking for a puppet.
I question having to spend 200 – 300 thousand $$ of taxpayers dollars to get out of a contract early. What change will warrant that expense? I believe it was an unnecessary expense this early into a new Council. They better get it right from here on. If they put in a yes man then the outcome falls squarely on Council.
I know that he appeared to have the bit in his teeth Susan and like Doris I Googled him once. Why bother electing a council if a hired gun is going to call all the shots?
Go to Google and put in Merlens name –you will find some interesting facts
How much did it cost us to get rid of him?
Do not find fault with this council–maybe we have some good people on there at last
Do you know him Marnie? If not how do you support that comment? Look what we have sitting acting now!! Nothing ever changes here like other municipalities, same old small town politics!
Making Merlin disappear may be the first smart thing council has done this year.
Merlin was a very smart and progressive manager. I think Council would prefer a yes man.
TNT, you can have him back……….
News just said he made quarter of a million annual, was hired in 2011 wow not sure what this guy had for credentials but he must have started out with a hell of a good annual salary or someone gave him a big raise somewhere in those a little over 3 years he was employed for our county.
This could pay for our garbage bags a year or some of the water and sewer, we do not need to pay these people this kind of money, I live not well but we survive on 50 to 60 thousand a year not million.
Wages are the biggest problem in this country, cut the wages, everyone live on $100 thousand or less a year and our country may survive.
11 who work for our County are on the sunshine list, was just announced on the cjbq news radio 7:30 news Mar. 29, 2015 the next highest paid is $151,000 not so bad but still over budget for this count.
Most cities get a free garbage bag a week Mr. Mayor you need to look into our expenses to live in this town and county, most people will be leaving town to get away from our ridiculous water and sewer rates.
We are in desperate need to find people who care about our what happens in our beautiful town and county and put these people in charge, get rid of these loafers who are just here for the god almighty dollar.
PEC just took a big step backwards. Sometimes you have to spend money to make money. Sure Merlin came with a big price tag…but he earned it. I’m from Sioux Lookout and after Merlin left, things went downhill. Our current CAO is a council pleaser, and nothing else. She has done nothing since she took over, other than forcing quality staff to leave and look for work elsewhere. It looks to me like PEC is headed in the same direction. What a shame!
Stop asking, of course there was a payout and a big one. You don’t take a CAO’s position without protecting yourself. For the very reasons that are taking place now.
You can find the CAO’s salary here….
http://canada.landoffree.com/employee/Merlin_Dewing
it wouldn’t surprise me if his contract called for a one year severance. Sure hope the Mayor and Council will provide some more details on this.
His contract should never been extended, however glad we are cutting our losses on this one. It was evident from the start this man found easy street..
I would like to remind council , this is our money you are using and if there was a payout we have the right to know.
And please make sure the next one , has a contract of 12 months duration, renewable only if we see significant savings , with no exit package .
agree Gary
hmm
1) what does that mean …He doesn’t align with the councils vision of the county
what vision does the council have?
nobody tells you.
I wonder if they will hire outside contract.
like McFarland with Temp agency . …..
McFarland home. a Secret.
REsidents /families get letters, that the OUTsIDE management have made great strides Identifying improvements.
BUT they don’t tell you what those are, nor have mentioned when they will implement them.
you hear is superior care.
some areas are good. while others are not.
I have appealed nothing to the OMB ever. My only appeal is for common sense and fairness for all ratepayers. A start is using the tax dollars wisely.
Smitty, how did they get in? I only recently starting looking at county politics a bit but it seems like the councillors pretty much do what they like to help themselves and their friends. Is this the norm around here?
I suppose you are going to tell us Gary what that issue is because there is always only one in your books. Let me see…could that be water? Remember Gary, if you had kept out of the mix in the first place with your OMB appeal, we or should I say the poor people of Picton would have had water at a manageable cost.
As for Merlin the Magician, good bye and shame on the councillors and Merten for their lack of knowledge in negotiating a contract. What a waste of money!
You don’t take a bad contract and make it worse on the taxpayers backs. You find a way to make things workable. We have no one in house capable of taking over this role except unless Council just wants a paper stamper. This costs the taxpayer enormous $$ and leaves us very vulnerable for municipal financial opportunities. The County has been drained of all talent by other municipal governments (i.e Human Resources, Engineer, Planner all to Hastings or Belleville. It is well known to top professionals that the County is organizationally in dire straits and a last choice for employment. We have lost so many good employees and no one looks at the core issues.
Probably will cost about $3-400 thousand. Thank Peter Mertens and the last council for extending his original 3 yr. contract.
Perhaps we could ask Quaiff, Gale ,Turpin, Dunlop, Maynard, O’brien, and Forester why they extended him less than 9 months ago, but need to pay him out today.
It sure is easy to play with other people’s money……
See ya Merlin, your days were numbered when Mertons bailed out on you………oh and don’t forget your piano.
I’d like to better understand how a group of elected officials with little or no expertise in the field that Mr. Dewing was responsible for can make this call given his track record as stated. Something about this just doesn’t smell right and as usual the public is left in the dark about behind the scene facts.
If they wanted change they should have taken out the 2 Commissioners at the same time. If you look at our financial position and infrastructure upon their twin arrival 10 or so years ago and where they have us now the decision would be a no brainer!
IMO this was a bad contract to begin with. Bad for the County. This CAO’s contract is online.
Have to agree with Susan. If you don’t fit their mold you are out. Kind of makes you wonder how some of them get in to office. We all know the answer to that. They don’t want to listen to the existing people that live in the County they want to run it their way. 🙁
This will be a hefty payout of taxpayers $$$ to get out of the contract. The waste never stops!
Mr.Dewing was too smart for this Council to deal with. They would prefer a puppet as opposed to someone with a progressive vision.
Next!
Hmmm!!!