Middleton Sacks CAO

By Heather Killen

The Spectator

NovaNewsNow.com

The Town of Middleton has sacked its CAO.

During the last regular meeting of the Committee of the Whole on June 24, Middleton town council voted to dismiss Jemma Lambert, its chief administrative officer.

Following a closed-door session that lasted nearly 90 minutes, the regular council session reconvened and councillors voted to immediately dismiss the chief administrative officer.

Councillor Marc Britney was the only council member to vote against this motion. Britney said in a later interview that while he’s not happy with the motion that came forward, he has a responsibility to support the council’s decision.

“I think the record should show that regardless of the decision, she has done some wonderful work for the town of Middleton,” he said.

Mayor Calvin Eddy said in a later interview that he isn’t able to comment on the council’s reasons for Lambert’s dismissal, as matters pertaining to human resources issues are kept confidential.

He expressed his confidence in Marianne Daine, the town’s financial director, to serve in the interim as acting CAO.

“We’re comfortable with Marianne serving in this capacity, she’s very versed with the issues that we’re dealing with,” he said. “She’s done this before, filling in for four months after Earl Bennett left, and again last year from April to August.”

Lambert succeeded Ray Rice as chief administrative officer last August. Rice was employed as Middleton’s CAO for several years.