Central Frontenac hires CAO/Public Works Manager – all in one

Jeff Green | Mar 11, 2015

Central Frontenac Mayor Frances Smith had a long awaited announcement to make after an in camera session of council early Tuesday evening.

When asked if two people had been hired or if only one of the key township management positions had been filled, she said, “We hired one person to do both jobs. We're done.”

In less than two weeks' time James (Jim) Zimmerman will take over as chief administrative officer and public works manager in the township. As part of a restructuring within the senior management of the township, the long-serving Planning Co-ordinator/Deputy Clerk Cathy MacMunn will be promoted to the position of clerk at the same time.

Zimmerman is expected to hit the ground running when he arrives for work on Monday, March 23.

The 51-year-old professional engineer will be hoping that 2015 is busy for him but not as controversial as 2014 was. In 2014 he was both hired and fired in just six months as head of the public works department for the City of Belleville. He then sought, by way of a detailed letter from his lawyer, to get his job back or at least get an explanation as to why he was let go.

“It was pretty traumatic and no explanation given whatsoever,” Zimmerman told the Belleville Intelligencer at the time. “They’ve ruined my career.”

That was then. Although Central Frontenac is a measure smaller than Belleville, Zimmerman will have a larger scope for his efforts. He will be in a position to affect not only the policies of Central Frontenac, but through the expanding co-operative efforts of the CAOs and public works managers of the four Frontenac County townships to work together, he will have a role in the future direction of the entire county.

In a media release from Central Frontenac Mayor Smith, Zimmerman is described as a “professional engineer who brings 28 years experience in both the public and private sectors to Central Frontenac. Mr. Zimmerman has held various management positions for municipalities including: the City of Belleville, the Town of Innisfil (near Barrie), the Town of Marathon, and the City of Ottawa.

“This is an exciting new chapter in the township's history and we look forward to welcoming him as an integral part of our administration.”

Frances Smith also had a few words to say about Cathy MacMunn on the occasion of her promotion to clerk.

“We have enjoyed Mrs. MacMunn's professional and caring service for many years and I an pleased to confirm this promotion,” Smith said.

In an odd twist to the arrangement, Jim Zimmerman will also fill the role of deputy clerk in addition to his other duties, making him the CAO/Public Works Manager/Deputy Clerk.

It is expected that Cathy MacMunn will maintain her position as planning co-ordinator as well as clerk.

Frances Smith said that two factors played in to the decision to combine the CAO and public works manager positions.

One is that by effectively eliminating a senior position, council was able to make a competitive offer to attract someone with Zimmerman's experience and level of skill. The second is that the interim CAO Steve Silver told the hiring committee that the CAO position is not particularly onerous at this time because of the stability of the management team.