After having the position vacant for over a year, the Town of Neepawa has found its new Chief Administration Officer (CAO). And council is excited about the experience they expect their chosen candidate to bring to the table. Council officially announced at its meeting last Tuesday night, Oct. 2, that it has come to an agreement with a new CAO, Richard Beachey. Beachey was expected to have his first day on the job yesterday (Tuesday). “With council's direction to have our mayor and deputy mayor sign a contract with our proposed candidate, I can officially announce on behalf of the committee and council that we've been successful in signing a new CAO,” Coun. Dean Dietrich, who chairs the CAO Hiring Committee, said. “He's really looking forward to coming here.” Beachey has spent over 25 years in municipal administration as CAO, clerk and treasurer in various municipalities in Ontario. Most recently, Beachey spent over eight years as deputy city clerk for the City of St. Thomas, Ont. He is a fully accredited graduate of the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario, and has a Bachelor of Arts (political science) degree with diplomas in municipal law, municipal accounting together with human resource management, public administration and business communication. Neepawa has been without a permanent CAO since last summer when Allison Bardsley resigned the position. Following that, the Town's Pat Martin was named acting CAO but vacated the temporary position within the year. Economic Development Officer Rick Donaldson has been filling in as acting CAO since that time.