BREAKING: West Hants council votes to sever ties with CAO

WEST HANTS, N.S. — Following a private discussion, West Hants councillors voted in favour of removing the municipality's chief administrative officer from her duties.

The decision came Jan. 9 at the conclusion of West Hants' first council meeting of 2018.

After spending time discussing various municipal matters – from organic waste collection to the proposed new hockey arena – West Hants council went in camera to discuss a personnel matter. Around 9:30 p.m., council chambers reopened to the public and CAO Cathie Osborne left the room. Coun. Tanya Leopold made a motion to end the contract with the CAO effective immediately. Four councillors voted against the motion, six in favour.

When asked for comment, Warden Abraham Zebian said an official press release would be issued Jan. 10. No reason was provided to the media as to why her contract was terminated.

Osborne joined the municipality as an interim CAO in July 2014 after West Hants' former CAO went on sick leave and was subsequently charged with assault, which occurred outside of the work environment, and defrauding West Hants. Council voted to hire Osborne on full time when her interim contract was coming due.