The Crucial Relationship

Jun 10, 2024

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, I'm your host Christopher Brown.

Today, we delve into a topic that often goes unnoticed: the relationship between municipal councils and their sole staff member, the Chief Administrative Officer, or CAO.

Our guest today is none other than Ann Mitchell, a CAO with years of experience in Ontario and Alberta, and an expert in municipal governance. Ann's groundbreaking thesis, "The Crucial Nature of the CAO-Council Relationship," sheds light on this essential yet frequently overlooked dynamic.

Her work underscores the critical role that CAOs play in the effective functioning of local governments and highlights the necessity of fostering a strong, collaborative relationship between councils and their CAOs.

In this episode, we'll explore some of the key areas of Ann's thesis, including: The argument for legislating the CAO position in every province and territory to ensure consistency and stability in municipal governance, The need for a standard CAO designation in all provinces, The importance of instituting a mandatory code of conduct for elected officials across all provinces and territories to promote ethical governance and accountability, The call for comprehensive governance training for all elected officials, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to navigate their roles effectively and the urgency of clarifying legislation regarding the roles and responsibilities of both the CAO and council members to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.

So join us as we dive into these critical aspects of the CAO-council relationship and discuss how these measures can enhance the governance and administration of our municipalities.

This is an episode you won't want to miss, as we uncover the foundational elements that contribute to a well-functioning local government.

This is Municipal Affairs.

*************************************************** Read the Thesis: https://www.viurrspace.ca/items/00f03061-c2ba-4930-a154-dec5fcb747bd

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