Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
Village of Donnelly have found a temporary solution for its departing chief administrative officer (CAO), one that will allow the community to finish the calendar year and organize itself to find a permanent replacement.
And they did not have to look too far down the road to help!
The Village hired a new CAO in April to replace its departing administrator, but after a short tenure the new CAO and her family will be leaving the area. This has forced the Village to once again search for a new administrator.
“The Village began the process of seeking a new (CAO) after receiving notice from our current CAO that she would be relocating to another province with her family,” explains Mayor Myrna Lanctot.
“We appreciate her contributions to the community and wish her all the best in this next chapter.”
On Oct. 14, Donnelly council decided to appoint Lorraine Willier as the Village’s interim CAO. Lanctot says this temporary appointment will help ensure continuity in operations during the election period and provide flexibility for the incoming council to establish a process for hiring a permanent CAO.
“The Village chose to appoint an interim CAO, who also holds a position with another municipality (Town of McLennan) due to the timing of the upcoming election,” explains Lanctot.
“It would not have been feasible to recruit and onboard a permanent CAO before the new council is in place. Selecting someone from a nearby municipality offers the advantage of local knowledge and administrative experience, helping ensure continuity and smooth operations during this transitional period,” she adds.
Specific work hours for the interim CAO has not been finalized, however; council is exploring options to better serve its residents, including the possibility of starting the workday later and extending hours into the evening.
“We’re also considering offering availability for a half-day on Saturdays, but these ideas are still under discussion, and nothing has been officially decided at this time,” says Lanctot.
“Lorraine Willier will be working both in-office and remotely during her time as interim CAO. This temporary arrangement is designed to support the Village through the remainder of the year, with plans to have a permanent CAO hired and in place by the end of December.”
Lantot says the Village of Donnelly recognizes the potential benefits of a shared CAO model, particularly for small municipalities.
“Shared leadership can offer advantages such as cost-effective access to professional expertise, shared training opportunities, and improved collaboration across communities,” explains Lanctot.
“While this current arrangement is not a formal shared CAO position, we appreciate the willingness of an experienced CAO from another municipality to support Donnelly during this interim period. Her flexibility in extending her workday to assist our community demonstrates the kind of regional cooperation that could lead to stronger partnerships in the future. That said, both municipalities remain independent, and this is not a jointly governed or shared position.”
Donnelly’s new council members were all acclaimed to their positions, but the first official meeting with new council is set for Oct. 28. The current CAO is set to step down from her role on Oct. 24, meaning the new council would not officially be sworn in before the vacancy occurs.
“To ensure continuity in leadership and operations, the interim CAO will begin on October 25,” says Lanctot.
“Lorraine Willier brings a wealth of experience, an open mind, and a deep sense of compassion to the Village. Her commitment to supporting other municipalities and fostering collaboration is evident in her past leadership, where she played a key role in mentoring and assisting a previous CAO who was new to the role.”
Lanctot says council would like to extend its sincere thanks to the Town of McLennan for allowing Willier the opportunity to support the Village of Donnelly in this interim CAO role.
“Collaboration and mutual support are essential, especially among small communities facing immediate needs,” concludes Lanctot.
“This kind of regional cooperation helps strengthen our ability to respond effectively and maintain continuity in leadership during transitional periods.”