By Mark Squibb/February 17, 2022
The Town of Witless Bay has appointed a new town manager and a new fire chief – again.
If that sounds like déjà vu, it’s because the town did just that in September and May last year respectively.
In September, the Town hired Kevin Kelley to replace outgoing CAO Pat Curran. Kelley tendered his resignation by early October. Likewise, in May the town hired Maria Churchill as the town’s first paid fire chief. Churchill resigned that October. Former assistant clerk Barbara Harrigan had also resigned earlier that summer, and town clerk Geraldine Caul was on a leave of absence. The situation left the town hall without staff for several months.
Harrigan returned temporarily to assist the transition of the seven new council members in September. Last week’s meeting was slated to be her last, and council members thanked her for her help.
During that same meeting, council unanimously appointed Shawn Kavanagh as the new town manager and acting town clerk.
“Myself, along with the mayor and deputy mayor led the recruitment process, which I’m glad to say that we saved the town thousands of dollars that would previously have been paid to a consultant,” said councilor Alex Troake. “We received some very good applications. Ultimately we interviewed four candidates, and Shawn was definitely the best fit. He’s familiar with Witless Bay and has roots here. He spent a lot of time at his grandparents’ home on Fisherman’s Road.”
Kavanagh is a lawyer and is the chairman of Calvert’s Local Service District.
Council also unanimously voted to appoint Jack Gatherall as the new fire chief.
“The Town of Witless Bay and the Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department are delighted to welcome Jack Gatherall to the position of Fire Chief,” said Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard. “Jack has been a dedicated volunteer since 2015 and is very familiar with how the Department functions at all levels.”
Gatherall was recognized as the department’s Firefighter of the Year in 2019, and was also the department’s training officer. Yard didn’t say if the chief will be paid. A request for clarification from the Town Hall wasn’t returned.
“Myself and Alex worked with the fire department to lead the hiring committee, thus saving thousands in consultant fees,” said Yard. “And one thing that was really important to us all was to recognise and appreciate the deep commitment of both current and former volunteers in the department, and we felt that if it was at all possible, we would like to promote from within, and recognise that commitment, and fortunately in Jack we found an excellent candidate for fire chief. He knows the department, he knows the area, he knows our strengths and weaknesses, and without doubt, he has shown unwavering dedication to furthering the goals of the department for years to come.”
