Aurora CAO Garbe incoming CAO for Richmond Hill
Garbe 'has right qualities to lead us into future'

YorkRegion.com
June 2, 2015
Kim Zarzour  

The Town of Richmond Hill has hired the Town of Aurora’s Chief Administrative Officer to take the place of outgoing CAO Joan Anderton.

Anderton announced in February she was leaving her position with the town after 10 years.

Her replacement, Neil Garbe, takes the helm July 6.

Garbe, who has 20 years of experience in municipal leadership, has been the top-ranking civil servant in Aurora for more than six years.

Prior to that, he worked with the Regional Municipality of York for 12 years in progressive leadership roles including director, community planning and administration.

He was executive director, strategic initiatives and administration from 2005-2009 before leaving the Region for Aurora.

“Neil Garbe brings 20 years of experience in municipal leadership to the Town,” said Mayor Dave Barrow. “After a thorough recruitment process, we determined that he has the right qualities to lead us into the future and we’re happy to welcome him to Richmond Hill.”

Garbe is a Certified Municipal Manager III and holds a master of urban and regional planning from Queen’s University and a master’s certificate in municipal management from York University’s Schulich School of Business.

“I’m excited by the challenge of leading Richmond Hill,” said Garbe. “York Region as a whole is a fantastic place and Richmond Hill is clearly one of its gems.”

Town staff, current and previous, gathered at the Sheraton Parkway last Thursday for Anderton’s retirement celebration. 

The afternoon event, featuring a cake festooned with an image of the town’s award-winning Constellation Bridge, bid farewell to Anderton, who has led a staff of more than 700 full-time and 1,200 part-time employees and oversaw an annual operating budget of more than $200 million.

Anderton was the town’s top-earning bureaucrat at a salary of $261,416, plus $11,544 in taxable benefits.

As CAO in Aurora, Garbe shared a spot with Anderton on the province’s Sunshine List, drawing $208,889.52, plus $11,842.25 in taxable benefits.

The CAO provides corporate leadership and direction in the overall management of the town’s departments, and reviews and approves all recommendations made to council and committees of council.