Kincardine CAO ready to retire after almost 40 years in local government

After working in local government for almost four decades, Kincardine's chief administrative officer is ready to retire.

Murray Clarke, 62, came to Kincardine in February, 2012, and says the past five years have been the highlight of his career.

While he wasn't terribly impressed with the municipality when he flew in for an interview on a typical cold, windy, snowy Bruce County winter day in December, 2011, he says he and his wife, Joan Eaglesham have come to love it here and have great affection for the community.

“This truly has been the most interesting work of my career,” says Clarke. “I have fallen in love with the community, with its volunteerism, its multicultural component thanks to Bruce Power. We have that cosmopolitan flavour here, if only we had the restaurants to go with it.

“When Joanie and I take our summer vacation, we will be coming here.”

Originally from Fergus, Clarke's first job was working for the City of Toronto part-time while he was going to school. He then spent two years in a municipal administrative apprenticeship at the Township of Georgian Bay, sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs, and was then hired by the township as assistant clerk.

Two years later, he became clerk-administrator at Erin Township, and following a reorganization there, he became CAO.

He held that job for 12 years before becoming the CAO of Bracebridge in the District of Muskoka. After 11 years there, he was hired as CAO of Sidney, British Columbia, working there until the end of February, 2012, when he came to Kincardine.

Relaxing in his office Tuesday morning, on the eve of his final Kincardine council meeting Wednesday (June 21), Clarke takes the time to reminisce about some great moments over the past 37 years.

He recalls taking a year off after Grade 13 to work at the Metro Toronto Zoo. He became the train driver, taking passengers through the zoo so they could see the enclosures – these were all Canadian animals, including grizzly bears, wolves, moose and sheep.

“I became the 'go-to' guy for VIPs,” says Clarke. "We had Toronto Maple Leaf players, Blue Jays players, and many Toronto 'big-wigs' visit, and I took them on the train. The number one rule was that nobody was allowed to touch the controls in the driver's compartment.”

One day, he was called in on his day off to take a VIP on the train. “I knew it was someone important because there was this big burly guy wearing an ear piece, standing on the platform. Well, who walks up but prime minister Pierre Trudeau and his sons, Justin and Sasha. They had just come from a Blue Jays game and wanted to go for a ride on the train.”

Clarke says Justin was just a little boy but he was fascinated by the train and he asked his father if he could drive.

“Well, his dad looked at my boss who just winked at me, so I let Justin push the buttons and drive the train, even though it was absolutely forbidden. It was great preparation for my career in local government.”

Clarke says he was fortunate that he knew what he wanted to do when he went to college. “Most people migrate from another discipline to become a CAO, but I knew that's what I wanted to be right from the start.”

He recalls working in Sidney, B.C., and helping to save the local ferry service by working out a long-term deal with Washington State Ferries which operated the service. “It took two years, but finally we hammered out a 40-year lease agreement with net revenues going to Washington State Ferries. We got the community involved on both sides of the border, shouting 'Save Our Ferries'.”

Clarke says he and Joan loved Sidney but they always felt like visitors there. Plus, he has three daughters living in Toronto and longed to be closer to them. So, he was thrilled to get the job in Kincardine.

"I remember contacting Nigel Bellchamber who was the recruiter. I had two interviews by Skype, and then I went to Kincardine to meet the council,” recalls Clarke. “Later, Nigel and I met at Boston Pizza and we worked out the terms on a napkin. That's when I knew I had the job.”

He says working senior management in local government means you're in the people business which happens to deliver a range of programs and services for the municipality.

“It's all about relationships,” he says. “I live by the Golden Rule: treat others the same way you want to be treated. Surround yourself with good people and then help them develop their talents and skills.”

Clarke jokes that as the CAO of a small municipality, he knows a little about a lot of things.

“I remember getting stressed out that I couldn't get all the work done, and my first reeve told me to consider what I wanted to accomplish, then cut it in half, and cut it in half once more. If you get that much done, you're winning.”

Besides learning about wind turbines and the nuclear industry, Clarke has seen a number of accomplishments during his tenure here.

At the top of the list is economic development, given the multi-year refurbishment of the Bruce Power plant. “We are very fortunate to have these companies, affiliated with Bruce Power, moving here and becoming part of the community to make it sustainable in the long-term.”

He also assisted in the hiring of treasurer Roxana Baumann, fire chief Kent Padfield, public works operations manager Don Huston, and public works director Adam Weishar.

Another plus, has been hiring Mark Rodger, solicitor and energy specialist, to help move the natural gas project forward; and Neil Ornstein, solicitor and human resources specialist, who has been very beneficial, says Clarke.
 
He and Joan have purchased a house in Guelph and are selling there home in Kincardine.

Clarke says the new home requires major renovation. “I had hoped to enjoy my first summer off in 50 years but I guess I'll be busy. I certainly won't be idle; I'll be looking for some part-time employment opportunities.”

He plans to volunteer and he wants to become a better ukulele player. “There's a ukulele orchestra in Guelph.”

But he admits one of the big priorities is spending time with his three daughters and their families: Meghan, a solicitor, and her husband Ryan Rodriguis, and their son Benjamin; Lindsay, a nurse; and Brynn, senior manager with the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies, and her husband, Jon Philp.

“I'm looking forward to teaching that grandson lots of bad habits,” says Clarke, with a laugh.

A lover of the outdoors and physical fitness, he has been working out on a rowing machine and is currently finishing an odyssey to row across the Atlantic Ocean, a total of 3,040 kilometres, from Newfoundland to Ireland. As of Tuesday, he has 1,810 kilometres to go.

“My goal is to visit Ireland in 2019 and finish my rowing there,” he says.

As he gets ready to say goodbye to Kincardine, Clarke says he has loved the job and will miss the work and the people here.

“I leave with some measure of regret,” he says, “but it's time to do something different.”

A retirement party in Clarke's honour will be held Thursday, June 29, from 5-8 p.m., at the Bruce Steakhouse.

New CAO Sharon Chambers takes over July 4.