Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
Village of Donnelly is now looking for a new chief administrative officer to lead its community, with current CAO Matthew Ferris resigning from his post.
Village Mayor Myrna Lanctot says council is very appreciative of the work Ferris has done for the community and they are hoping to find a replacement that can fill his shoes.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for Matthew Ferris for his dedicated service and commitment during his time with us,” says Lanctot.
“His strengths in development have benefited our community, including his role in the successful establishment of the hemp plant. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours and are confident that he will continue to make a positive impact wherever he goes.”
Ferris has been working for Donnelly since 2020, and in his time has helped the Village proceed with many items that had been longstanding on their agenda. Council is hoping to find someone with the same drive and knowledge Ferris has.
“We just got the news that he had accepted a new position in a different community earlier in the new year,” Lanctot explains.
“We are now hoping to find someone to fill his role and help to move Donnelly forward.”
Lanctot says it’s a fulfilling position for an individual who is an independent worker, ambitious, accountable, decisive, and who is community oriented. She adds the person must be able to step into a senior leadership position and be able to balance today’s needs and acknowledge financial restraints and responsibilities.
“Having knowledge about budgeting, financial planning, municipal governance, strong interpersonal skills and Municipal Government Act knowledge will all be important,” says Lanctot.
“Having a CAO degree would also be awesome. This is a great opportunity to help grow our community and help shape and guide decisions that council makes about the village.”
The job has not yet been posted, but Lanctot says it will soon be advertised on their website in upcoming weeks at www.donnelly.ca. It will also be posted on Indeed and Municipal Affairs listings when available.
“We’re hoping to see someone in the office more frequently,” say Lanctot, who explains specifications have not been set yet for the position, because council was just made aware of the need to advertise for the position.
“It would definitely be beneficial if the person is passionate about our community and driven to do well. It is also important to recognize that not everyone is gracious when they speak to our administration, so having tough skin would be an asset.”
If you are interested in the position, please send your resume to Lanctot at mylanctot @gmail.com.