The Town of Petrolia has hired a new chief administrative officer after the previous CAO resigned in the midst of controversy.
After a special closed-door meeting Monday afternoon, Mayor John McCharles announced that Rick Charlebois will be appointed to the position effective March 5, 2018.
Charlebois has served as the town's director of corporate services/treasurer since 2013.
Prior to coming to Petrolia, he spent 30 years in the Canadian Forces and has lived and/or worked in every province and territory in the country.
After retiring as a Colonel, Charlebois worked in the federal government and retired as assistant deputy minister corporate services/chief financial officer of the public service commission of Canada.
He is a chartered professional accountant and has his Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Charlebois takes over as town CAO from Manny Baron who resigned in November after an independent investigation looked into his ownership of two buildings leased to the town.
Mayor McCharles says they're excited Charlebois has accepted the position.
"He has proved invaluable as a member of our senior administrative team and we believe that as CAO, he will continue to show incredible leadership and initiative," says McCharles.
Mandi Pearson who served as interim CAO while an executive search was undertaken, will retain the position of clerk while continuing with the responsibilities of operations clerk.
The town received 70 applications which were narrowed down to 12 and then shortlisted to four to be interviewed by a hiring committee.
