BATTLEFORD - The Town of Battleford will have a new face moving into the role of chief administrative officer (CAO).
Mayor Ames Leslie announced at this week's council meeting that Todd Francis, who currently works as a CAO in a community in British Columbia, will take on the position with the Town of Battleford around mid-October.
"We're excited to welcome him aboard," the mayor said. "It's been a long summer of trying to do my role as the mayor, plus supporting the team here in decisions of what a CAO would [look after] so I've been doing dual-capacity to make sure everything continues in the path of what we needed."
Shawn Sylvester has been serving as interim CAO.
"I think we've been in good hands, but it's getting to the point where we do need that dedicated CAO to bring that expertise back to the desk, and move forward on some projects that have been somewhat in limbo until we have that authoritary person to get it done," Leslie said.
Sylvester will remain as the interim CAO on an ad hoc basis, but otherwise will return to his former role as finance officer for the town.
He started his role as acting CAO recently, since the town's previous CAO, Landon Chambers, departed from the position.