David Creech has been confirmed the new CAO/Treasurer of the Municipality of Meaford.
Meaford council confirmed that Creech has accepted the top position with the municipality for the next six months at a special budget meeting held last Wednesday afternoon. Mayor Francis Richardson made the formal announcement at Monday night's regular meeting.
Creech has been with the municipality for several months as a Financial Consultant working on various budget issues. His early priority was to explain how the municipality recorded deficits in 2006 and 2007. Since then, he has been working on the 2008 budget.
"I'm absolutely thrilled that he accepted the job," said Richardson after Monday's meeting. "He's been doing a tremendous job for us. I'm pleased council was willing to appoint him," he said.
Creech's appointment will not be long-term. His term is scheduled to end in October. After the 2008 budget is completed, his priority will be finding a full-time CAO and/or Treasurer.
"I felt some obligation to finish the task at hand here and hopefully find a full-time Treasurer and get on with the recruitment of a new CAO," said Creech in an interview after the meeting. "We've done a lot of work the past few months. The staff has been great to work with and council is really coming together," he said.
Creech himself stressed that he will not be the full-time CAO in a few months. He said - with a laugh - that in October he will be heading south to a warmer climate. However, he plans to have the municipality running at peak efficiency before he leaves.
"Once we get through this budget process we can deal with more future oriented matters," said Creech, a former CAO in Guelph and The Blue Mountains.
Deputy Mayor Mike Traynor said Creech accepting the job of CAO/Treasurer is a huge step forward.
"I'm delighted he's agreed to fit in there for the time being. This is a transition period until the end of October and he's going to be busy," said Traynor.
"We'll be focusing on getting the full-time position filled. I'd like to proactively get on with this. I want to create the positive profile that Meaford deserves," said Traynor.
