Caledon CAO Mike Galloway resigns suddenly last week, Carey Herd named interim replacement

Written By KIRA WRONSKA DORWARD

That Mike Galloway is no longer Caledon's CAO is not in dispute. What is worth looking into are the circumstances surrounding his extremely sudden resignation after an emergency session of Council was called last Friday September 13.

In a statement to the press late on Friday, Mayor Allan Thompson thanked Galloway for his contributions to the Town during his four-year tenure, and wished him luck with all future endeavours. He claimed Galloway was “instrumental” in helping the Town on certain issues. “During his tenure Mike successfully led the organization through a time of significant change and the establishment of a new customer-focused approach to municipal service delivery,” Thompson wrote. 

News of Mr. Galloway's departure came as a surprise to many in the community, especially after it was revealed his resignation would come into effect immediately, with no notice served. Rumours have spread throughout the community, with many wondering what would cause Caledon's now former CAO to leave in such abrupt fashion.

Barb Shaughnessy, the former Caledon regional councillor offered something of an opinion when talking with the Citizen early this week. She, too, wondered what had happened that would lead to Mr. Galloway leaving with immediate effect.

“You have to understand (Council) doesn't go into an emergency meeting for a resignation. I just think the people of Caledon deserve to know what happened,” Mr. Shaughnessy stated.

The Citizen levied several questions to the Town in an attempt to get to the bottom of the situation. When asked why, specifically, an emergency board meeting was called last Friday, David Arbuckle, Caledon's General Manager of Strategic Initiatives, stated Council was within its rights to call an emergency session when it was deemed necessary.

“Both the Town's procedural bylaw, and the municipal act provide rules related to the head of council's discretion to call special meetings of council,” Mr. Arbuckle retorted.

Mr. Galloway served as Caledon's CAO for approximately four years, having been hired back in 2015.

The decision to hire a new CAO has been postponed until after the Province completes its review of regional governments. Carey Herd, the Town Clerk and General Manager of Corporate Services will serve as acting CAO until such a time a permanent replacement is hired on.