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New Elliot Lake CAO promises change

Dan Gagnon took on the role on Jan. 2.
2018-01-08 Daniel Gagnon
Elliot Lake CAO Daniel Gagnon. (Kris Svela for ElliotLakeToday)

Elliot Lake’s new chief administrative officer (CAO), Daniel Gagnon, is promising more openness in dealing with city staff and residents.

Gagnon vowed greater “transparency” in the way the city conducts business for residents in his first public address since officially taking on the position Jan. 2. He made his comments at a Jan. 8 council meeting.

This is the second time Gagnon has worked for the city, having previously worked in the economic development department and serving briefly as interim CAO before taking on a post as CAO with the municipality of North Glengarry in eastern Ontario seven years ago.

He told council that he and his family are appreciative about returning to the community and promised not to “squander” a second chance offered by council to work in Elliot Lake.

“There are few second chances in life so I don’t plan on squandering this,” he said. “I look forward to working with council, staff and the public to deliver some positive change.”

“I’m acutely aware of some of the difficulties that have been happening in senior management in this position before and I’m looking forward to lending some stability to this position and being here for years to come,” he added, referring to the numerous changes in the CAO position over the past several years.

Gagnon told Elliot Lake Today that he has been following ongoing developments in the city for the past two years, but declined to comment on any specific changes he is bringing in as the new CAO.

His first objective is to open up “a little bit more transparency with the public, little bit more communication with the public.”