The Municipality of Chatham-Kent appointed Michael Duben as their Chief Administrative Officer during a virtual Council meeting on Monday, June 13, 2022.
Council approved three staff recommendations at their meeting, by a vote of 17-1, to make the appointment official.
Duben will take over as CAO in Chatham-Kent effective September 8, 2022.
Council directed the Mayor to be authorized to execute an employment contract with Duben, based on the terms approved by Council in Closed Session.
The CAO Bylaw, appointing Duben as CAO, was also approved.
The Interim CAO Bylaw for Tony Haddad was also amended, which will extend Haddad’s appointment until September 7, 2022 and his consulting services will be retained until September 9, 2022 to provide transition support to Duben.
On June 9, 2022, Municipal officials announced in a press release that Duben was set to become Chatham-Kent’s next CAO, following Don Shropshire’s retirement.
“Michael joins us at a critical juncture as we work to recover from the challenges of the pandemic, including its economic and societal impacts, along with a vibrant level of growth and development,” Mayor Darrin Canniff said in a media release.
“We are confident Michael’s comprehensive leadership experience, relationship building and past achievements in managing partnerships and driving value in the delivery of public services, will greatly benefit the Municipality and help Council to realize it’s strategic goals.”
Duben had been serving as CAO for Oxford County, a regional municipality in Southwestern Ontario.
Prior to that assignment, he served the District Municipality of Muskoka as its Chief Administrative Officer for seven years beginning in 2013.
In addition to his CAO experience, Duben also brings 10 years of experience as a senior corporate law partner at Miller Canfield LLP in Windsor and over five years with the City of Windsor as General Manager responsible for a number of departments including parks, licensing and enforcement, planning, building, recreation, fire services and cultural affairs.
Duben also served as Vice President for EnWin Utilities from 2009-2013.
A staff report indicates Waterhouse Executive Search was retained by Council to assist in the recruitment of a new Chief Administrative Officer following the retirement Don Shropshire and the “unsuccessful recruitment” for his successor.
“A review of the applicants following the closing of the posting took place with a short list of applicants identified by the recruiter for interviews,” a staff report indicates.
“From this process, a list of three finalist candidates were selected for interview and presentation to Council. The resulting outcome was a preferred candidate to negotiate contract terms as the framework for an employment agreement.”
A staff report indicates the financial implications of the recommendations were included in both the 2022 approved budget allocations for the CAO’s office and the labour relations reserve.
