Halifax (N.S.: County) Chief Administrative Officer's (CAO) records

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Halifax (N.S.: County) Chief Administrative Officer's (CAO) records

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  • Textual record
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Reference code

312-117

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  • 1979 - 1996 (Creation)
    Creator
    Halifax (N.S.: County) Chief Administrative Officer

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Physical description

364 cm of textual records
9 cartographic items

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Biographical history

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) was responsible for the administrative operations of Halifax County Municipality. Acting as the official liaison between County Council and municipal staff, the CAO directed and coordinated the implementation of Council’s administrative policies and plans. The position of CAO was created in February 1980 when County Council passed By-law No. 56, the Chief Administrative Officer By-law. The CAO reported to Council and the Management Committee and oversaw the work of the County’s nine department heads as well as the Corporate Secretariat (which included legal services, the Clerk’s office, policy and research, by-law enforcement, etc,). As the senior administrator and personnel director of the municipal government, the CAO was mainly responsible for: managing the daily affairs of all municipal departments; preparing and administering the annual budget; attending all Council meetings; facilitating communication between Council and staff; making recommendations to Council about the appointment and dismissal of department heads; appointing and dismissing all municipal employees (with the exception of department heads); acting as municipal government representative in labour negotiations; authorizing the purchase and sale of County assets (under a certain dollar amount); supervising all contract work undertaken for the Municipality; pursuing legal action when authorized by Council; and performing any other duties assigned by Council. From the establishment of the position until 1995, Halifax County Municipality’s CAO was Kenneth Meech. In late 1995, Meech left the County to become the CAO for the newly-created Halifax Regional Municipality. After Meech’s departure in August 1995, George M. McLellan was appointed Acting CAO. Peter Dickson (also spelled Dixon) was named to the position in October 1995 and was replaced by Vince Smith in January 1996. After April 1, 1996, the Halifax County Municipality, along with the position of CAO, ceased to exist.

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Scope and content

Series consists of records documenting the activities of the CAO’s office. Since the CAO was the County's top administrator and responsible for personnel, most of the records are related to the high-level administration of departmental affairs and staff management. CAO files cover most of the County's activities.

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Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Records were transferred from the Halifax Regional Municipality's Municipal Clerk's Office in 2008. In addition, records contained with file 312-117-1-144 were transferred to the Halifax Municipal Archives in 2014 from the Halifax Regional Municipality's Chief Administrative Officer's Office.

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