CAO’s Office
Chief Administrative Officer: Jason MacDonald
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is appointed by council to assist in setting the direction of the Town of Amherst by providing guidance and advice – based on best practices and emerging trends in municipal government.
He works closely with his counterparts in other municipalities, as well as with federal and provincial government officials on a variety of issues affecting the
Town of Amherst.
The CAO also directs and co-ordinates the general management of the business affairs of the town, overseeing the work of all municipal employees, in accordance with the bylaws, policies and plans approved by Amherst town council, so that our programs and services meet the ever-changing needs of the community, while ensuring fiscal responsibility.
About Jason MacDonald
Before becoming the Chief Administrative Officer in June 2021, MacDonald joined the Town of Amherst and the Municipality of Cumberland in 1999 as a land-use planner. He worked in that capacity until he became the town’s planning manager in 2001.
In 2003, MacDonald was appointed to the position of director of planning and development. In 2008, he assumed the role of director of planning and engineering services following the retirement of longtime town engineer Ron Patterson.
In 2014, MacDonald was appointed deputy-CAO-operations, adding the management of the town’s Public Works Department, and for a short while the Amherst Fire Department, to his duties.
With the resignation in 2019 of Bill Schurman, the town’s former recreation director, MacDonald added the management of recreational facilities to his duties. Another change in his duties occurred in 2020 when he took over the management of the town’s community well-being team following the resignation of Chief Financial Officer Shelley Rector. He became the town's interim CAO in April 2021 following the resignation of longtime CAO Greg Herrett.
Expenses (Recurring)
MacDonald Recurring Expenses Summary
Expenses (Travel Claims)
MacDonald 20240510 NSFM Spring Conference Baddeck
MacDonald 20240513 Meeting Springhill
MacDonald 20240515 Police NSFM Meeting Truro
MacDonald 20240524 AMA Spring Conference Fox Harbour
MacDonald 20240403 CAOs Library Meeting Springhill
MacDonald 20240412 EPR Meeting Kemptown
MacDonald 20240416 Stadium Promotional Meeting Truro
MacDonald 20240301 Meeting with Municipal Advisor Halifax
MacDonald 20240318 CAOs Meeting Springhill
MacDonald 20240326 APA Pension Meeting Halifax
MacDonald 20240222 Meeting with County CAO Springhill
MacDonald 20231024 EMO Workshop Truro
MacDonald 20231030 River Philip Foundation Meeting Oxford
MacDonald 20231117 Meeting with Quebec Major Junior Officials Moncton
MacDonald 20230929 APA Pension Plan Meeting Dartmouth
MacDonald 20230922 Northern Region Meeting Springhill
MacDonald 20230915 Rules of Order Meeting Process Workshop Yarmouth
MacDonald 20230907 Meet with Crossroads Owner Pugwash
MacDonald 20230819 Meet with Potential Developer
MacDonald 20230719 Cumberland Colchester Immigration & Population Growth meeting Masstown
MacDonald 20230615 AMA Conference Truro
MacDonald 20230613 Nichent Energy Meeting Dartmouth
MacDonald 20230601 CAMA Conference Ontario
MacDonald 20230528 FCM Conference Toronto
MacDonald 20230505 Meeting in Bridgewater and NSFM Conference Digby
MacDonald 20230425 Bill Schurman Funeral Summerside
MacDonald 20230323 Meet with Developer Dartmouth
MacDonald 20230127 Non profit Affordable Housing Meeting Truro
MacDonald 20230106 CJSMA Windup Meeting Springhill
MacDonald 20230104 Meet with Developer Dartmouth
MacDonald 20221221 Planning Research Moncton
MacDonald 20221104 NSFM Fall Conference Halifax
MacDonald 20221028 Meet with Municipal Advisor Dartmouth
MacDonald 20221010 Police Chiefs CAOs meeting Truro
MacDonald 20220923 AMA Fall Conference Syndey
MacDonald 20220909 Municipal Advisory Meeting Dartmouth
MacDonald 20220819 Meeting with Developer Bedford
MacDonald 20220729 Meet with Developer Dartmouth
MacDonald 20220713 CAOs meeting Port Howe
MacDonald 20220623 Cumberland Business Connector AGM Fox Harbour
MacDonald 20220620 Mayors CAO Meeting Oxford
MacDonald 20220617 AMA Conference Oak Island
MacDonald 20220606 Developer Meeting Moncton
MacDonald 20220507 Meeting with Developer
MacDonald 20220506 NSFM Conference White Point
MacDonald 20220429 Potential Consultant meeting Truro
MacDonald 20211007 AMA Fall Conference Dartmouth
MacDonald 20210910 Mayor CAO meeting Springhill
MacDonald 20210902 MacDonald Mayor CAO meeting Springhill
MacDonald 20210820 Turner Drake meeting
Phone: (902) 667-3352
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