Kevin Coady realizes he has some big shoes to fill in Cornwall.
Coady, 55, started his new job as chief administrative officer (CAO) on Oct. 2, replacing Kevin McCarville who had held the post for the past 18 years.
But while Coady is on a bit of a learning curve, the timing could not be better as the town undergoes some change itself.
The new municipal revenue sharing formula was just announced, a document that Coady helped author. And, the province is in the midst of building the much-anticipated Cornwall bypass highway which many hope will lead to future residential and commercial growth.
“It’s kind of an interesting time,’’ Coady said in an interview Thursday. “The bypass highway here is kind of interesting and that kind of changes the dynamic of the whole place, so we’ve got some opportunities to do some things.
“What some of those opportunities are I’m not quite sure. I’d like to have a plan in place before we do some things.’’
He points to the spatial plan done by Borden-Carleton as an example. It’s all about making a good impression, after all.
Coady would know a thing or two about Borden-Carleton. Before signing on as Cornwall’s CAO, he spent the past four years in the same role with the Island’s coastal community.
“We need some kind of plan like that because the bypass highway changes the whole dynamic of the whole town. We’ve got an opportunity here to do a main street and some other things, so we need a plan and we need some money for a plan.’’
Coady said Cornwall needs commercial development, explaining that the town’s budget revenue in that category is very low compared to Borden-Carleton.
Of course, it will ultimately be up to town council to come up with whatever plan that gets put into place. Coady is more than happy to be part of the team. He is is familiar with Cornwall, having lived there with his wife, Karen, since 1980, trekking back and forth to Borden-Carleton the past few years.
He has a law degree and experience in the trades, although an injury prevented him from pursuing a career. Coady has also worked in municipal affairs with the provincial government.
When McCarville announced he was stepping down as Cornwall’s CAO, Coady knew he had to jump at the opportunity.
“It came a little earlier than I thought . . . (but) I’m not getting any younger, so if I didn’t put my hat in the ring (this time, the job) wouldn't be around again before I pack it in.’’
