Demetri Kachafanas appointed permanent CAO in Cape Breton

Cape Breton regional council has made a surprising decision to appoint Demetri Kachafanas as the permanent Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Kachafanas has been acting in this role since the retirement of Marie Walsh last fall. The amendment to appoint him was proposed by Councillor Earlene MacMullin during a council meeting. She praised Kachafanas for improving operations at city hall. Many councillors supported her, noting positive changes since Kachafanas took over. However, some councillors, including Kim Sheppard-Campbell and Deputy Mayor Eldon MacDonald, expressed concerns. They argued that the decision was rushed and preferred a more thorough hiring process. Sheppard-Campbell suggested investing in a headhunting firm to ensure a fair selection process for the CAO position. Despite the objections, the vote passed with a majority of 10-2. Kachafanas was temporarily out of the room during the debate. Mayor Cecil Clarke defended the decision, mentioning that the council had previously hired Walsh in a similar manner. The council also approved a new five-year fixed-term contract for the CAO, with an option for a three-year extension. Additionally, they established a performance evaluation policy, which includes setting goals for the CAO and regular reviews to track progress. The contract must be ratified by the entire council, and failing to meet goals could lead to termination of the CAO.