Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Town of Greater Napanee Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Ray Callery is moving on to a new role after 24 years with the town.
Effective July 5 he will begin a new position as CAO of Leeds and Grenville.
Callery’s career with the Town of Napanee began in 1991 when he was hired as deputy clerk/treasurer, working his way up to CAO eight years later. During that time he played a key role in helping to shape the town’s amalgamation, when Lennox and Addington County’s 13 lower-tier municipalities were reduced to four.
A release from the Town of Greater Napanee credited Callery for helping to bring new business developments to the community such as Tim Horton’s, Flying J, Hampton Inn, Wal-Mart, Drain-All, Shoppers’ Drug Mart, Shoeless Joe’s, Red Tree Development expansions, Cherrywood Parkway subdivision and Atura Power.
He also spearheaded public projects such as the Strathcona Paper Centre, the completion of Jim Kimmett Boulevard, the transfer of Conservation Park to municipal property, Rotary Park and Splashpad redevelopment and community events such as the Riverfront Festival, Big Bright Lights Show and Local Government Day. Among his most recent projects was negotiating a new contract between the town and the Ontario Provincial Police, which has now been brought before the province.
“On behalf of myself, council and staff, we wish Ray all the best in his new position,” Greater Napanee Mayor Marg Isbester said in a release, noting she has worked alongside Callery in a municipal setting for a decade. “Some of us have worked with Ray for a long time; others had shortened times. All of us recognized his dedication and unselfish time commitment to a town that he has seen through a lot of ups and downs; a town that has fought its way through amalgamation (and like many other municipalities) is still working on that aspect. His challenges will be somewhat different at the United Counties as an upper tier, but I am sure he will be as dedicated.”
All told, Callery has 32 years of experience in municipal government. In his new role he’ll take over for Andy Brown, who is retiring after nine years as Leeds and Grenville CAO.
Greater Napanee is yet to name Callery’s replacement.