After serving through the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to calm the waters in Brighton, and rebuilding the municipal leadership team, CAO Bob Casselman is officially retiring this week from his Brighton role.
Casselman, who’s been described as a veteran of municipal affairs after some 38 years of municipal service, is leaving his post as of Friday, April 5. He was supposed to retire earlier this year but postponed to help amid municipal recruitment efforts for a new CAO.
“Again, we’ll announce the retirement of Mr. Casselman – he keeps retiring and coming back,” said Mayor Brian Ostrander, as he recognized the outgoing CAO at his last Brighton council meeting at the end of March.
After a few jokes and some laughter about how this time Casselman is really departing the role and not postponing retirement again, Ostrander, on behalf of this term of council and last, gave thanks for Casselman’s service, bidding the outgoing CAO a final public official farewell.
While crediting Casselman for helping to “calm our waters,” and essentially rebuilding the senior leadership team while juggling an array of duties and challenges over the years, Ostrander said Casselman is leaving the municipality in good shape.
Casselman served in his Brighton post since 2019.
He agreed to stay on longer at the municipality to help ensure good continuity of leadership and a seamless transition, explained Ostrander earlier.
In addition to bolstering a stronger staffing complement, the municipality has credited Casselman with successes over the years under strategic plans, infrastructure renewal, organizational reviews, physician recruitment, and helping to carry Brighton through the pandemic.
As of April 8, Brighton will welcome a new veteran CAO with more than 15 years of municipal experience as Elana Arthurs joins the municipality. Arthurs most recently served in the top post as CAO in the Township of Douro-Drummer for the last three years.
“We’re very excited to have (this) kind of leadership here in Brighton,” Ostrander told Oldies earlier, after Arthurs’ appointment announcement.
Ostrander also shared confidence in Arthurs’ strategic vision and collaborative approach, saying these will be invaluable assets to Brighton as the community navigates ongoing opportunities and challenges.
“I am certain that under her leadership, Brighton will continue to thrive as a vibrant and prosperous place to live and work.”
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
