Meaford has a new CAO.
Council has appointed David Creech to the position for a 6 month contract from May until October.
Mayor Francis Richardson says it only made sense, since Creech has been helping out the municipality as a financial consultant.
Richardson says this move gives the municipality some stability and some breathing room.
Creech replaces former embattled CAO David Free who resigned last August, after being off work since early June 2007.
Free made headlines last year after filing a slander lawsuit against the Georgian Theatre Festival.
Richardson says Creech will be actively looking for someone to take over the position of CAO and Treasurer permanently once his contract is up.
Richardson says Creech will also continue helping council work on the 2008 budget.
The proposed operating budget is up about 1.46 million dollars over last year, while the 2.6 million dollar capital budget would add an additional 170 thousand dollars to this year’s taxes.
Richardson says a number of reductions have already been made in the budget.
Some of the recommendations include cutting 300 thousand dollars from the OPP budget, 75 thousand dollars from the Meaford Chamer of Commerce and deferring staff wage increases until July, which would save 75 thousand dollars.
Council also has some room to cut some of the proposed 676 thousand dollars roads projects.
Richardson says there are two more budget meetings next week on Monday and Wednesday.
He says council will be going through each municipal department looking for further cuts.
Richardson says they hope to take the budget to the public very soon.
