GRAVENHURST – About eight months after taking the job, Chief Administrative Officer Frank Miele has tendered his resignation.
Miele, who was hired in mid-february, presented his notice last Wednesday, Sept. 5.
“There’s a lot of great things that have been done and that are going on here in town; I see Gravenhurst propelling toward a very bright future,” he said. “But for personal matters, I have to move on.”
CAO Miele took over the post from interim CAO David Weldon, who had held the position for about a year. The resignation means council is back in the hunt for another full-time CAO for the second time in as many years.
“I debated the matter for quite sometime but I felt I had to do what’s best for council and for the town,” Miele said. “It is for personal family matters and it’s for no other reason than that.”
Since taking the reigns this winter, Miele said he’s been proud of the progress the town has made, including the implementation of quarterly reports posted on the town’s website, new budget measures, corporate restructuring, the solar framework agreement, the service delivery standards manual and several other new policies.
“Although it was a short time I do think we made some very important progress with policy development and in reporting in an open manner to the public,” he added.
“And I have to say in all of my experience, the Gravenhurst council is an amazing one, the staff are extremely professional and it’s been an honour to serve with them.”
Miele also currently teaches Economic Development at York University’s School of Public Policy and Administration as well as Administration at Ryerson University’s School of Urban and Regional Planning. He said his personal matters in addition to the travel between Gravenhurst and his other responsibilities became a bit much to bear, but he’s proud of his tenure here.
“I can say I got to know Gravenhurst very well, its beauty, its issues and some of the solutions,” he added. “It’s a shame it was so short, but I had to do what I felt was best for the corporation and my family.”
“We’ve accepted his resignation and we’re thankful for the hard work and inroads that Frank has made,” said Mayor Paisley Donaldson. “He’s gotten us through a challenging period and put our town on track to move forward.”
Miele will remain in his post to assist with the hunt for a new CAO until Oct. 26.