Council elevates clerk to CAO role
Frigault promoted second time this year, takes over top municipal position
Trent Hills council has decided the best candidate to be the municipality’s new chief administrative officer is already working for it, so it hasn’t bothered to hire an HR firm to search for a candidate.
In a news release on Friday, council announced that Karen Frigault, who has been director of corporate services and clerk since April, will become CAO on December 1.
Frigault, who joined the municipality five years ago, takes over from Lynn Phillips who announced earlier this month she was resigning to take another job elsewhere.
Frigault was appointed clerk in April after Doug Irwin left to assume that position with the City of Belleville. She came to Trent Hills in December 2020 after three years with Prince Edward County and 21 years with Lennox and Addington County.
The municipality did not say when council made the decision to appoint Frigault. Council has had no meetings since Nov. 4 when it met in private to discuss options for recruiting a new CAO.
At its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 25, council is expected to pass a bylaw appointing Frigault.
“Her extensive experience, steady leadership style, and dedication to our community make her well-positioned to guide the municipality through the next phase of its growth and development,” said Mayor Bob Crate.
Also on Tuesday, Dawn Welch will be appointed deputy clerk and Laura Cook will be named deputy chief building official.
Real estate sales down, prices hold steady
October home sales in Trent Hills were down from the previous month and a year ago.
Last month 21 homes sold, down from 36 in September and slightly below the 24 that sold in October 2024.
The median price was unchanged month-over-month at $555,000. In 2024 the median price was $625,000.
“October’s numbers show that buyers and sellers are adapting to today’s economic realities,” said Christine Riley, President of the Central Lake Association of Realtors. “We’re seeing continued moderation in prices across several markets, which may open new opportunities for buyers who were previously priced out, especially following the recent interest rate adjustment to 2.25 per cent.”
For all of Northumberland County, the average selling price rose to $713,000, up 6 per cent from September and 3 per cent from October 2024.
In Trent Hills, homes that sold went for 97 per cent of the asking price and were on the market an average of 43 days, down from 70 days in September and the average for the year of 59 days.
The number of homes on the market was 131 at the end of October, down from 145 in September and 143 in October 2024. Looking back at October 2023, 13 homes sold for an average of $720,000 and only 80 homes were listed.
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Frigault has a good working history. Hopefully she will streamline services to cut taxes and utility costs. Will be watching how long it takes to join the sunshine club. The Municipality hires a consultant to recommends salaries of management. A lot depends on how many employees are under the management control. Time will tell. Council should be keeping art Chamberlain informed on all decisions of council and management. Reading between the lines he was not aware of the meeting on the promotion of the new CAO.