GRAVENHURST - Right around the same time the town parted ways with both newly hired CAO Frank Miele and economic development and communications manager Tony Rossi, the CEO and chief librarian also took her leave.
Gone for about a month now, Rita Orr tendered her resignation to the library board and town council. She was hired this past spring and took over the role from former 36-plus-year CEO and chief librarian Robena Kirton upon her retirement May 24.
“She did tender her resignation a little more than a month ago now,” said Mayor Paisley Donaldson, who could not provide a reason.
She said the board is now weighing its options about how it will move forward with replacing the post.
“There is an acting chief librarian and the board is determining if they need an actual CEO at the library or if it’s small enough for just a chief librarian,” Donaldson explained. “Once they have made that determination, they will come to council with their recommendations on how we should proceed.”
A resident of Collingwood and mother of three, Orr has 13 years of library CEO experience, 12 years of experience working in libraries across Canada, and five years as an entrepreneur. She began in Gravenhurst in late May, lasting only four months. She was hired by the board as the ideal candidate with the help of Miele, who started his job as CAO in February and resigned due to personal family issues in early September, followed by Rossi, whose employment was terminated by the town shortly after Miele’s departure.
The CAO position has been filled by former interim CAO David Weldon. The town is currently deciding whether or not to replace Rossi or spread his duties permanently to other staff. At this point, the library position has not been advertised and won’t be until the board determines its course of action.