Tantramar has a new treasurer, and it’s the old treasurer.

Former Sackville treasurer Michael Beal has been serving as acting treasurer for Tantramar since the amalgamation, even though his official job title in the town’s new organizational structure has been director of corporate compliance.

In a brief, two-minute long public session following a closed meeting on Tuesday, Tantramar council approved Beal’s appointment as treasurer. (The appointment is one of three that requires council approval, along with clerk and CAO.)

CHMA called up CAO Jennifer Borne on Thursday to hear more about the decision to appoint Beal.

“I think anyone that’s ever been in council chambers or watched one of Sackville meetings knows that that Mr. Beal is certainly the right guy for the position,” says Borne. “The years of experience and expertise that he comes with is just, you know, outstanding.”

Beal has been in municipal government for three decades, and served as Sackville treasurer from 1999 through to 2022, sometimes stepping in as acting CAO during that time. He will now take the helm as director of financial services, and Borne says there will be re-organization regarding his compliance duties.

“We always knew that there was going to be tweaks and adjustments to the org chart that would happen at any time,” says Borne. “We don’t want to be over-resourced, we don’t want to be under-resourced. So certainly [we’re] going to take the time to think things through and make sure that the setup is correct for the organization.”

Borne says the compliance role is still a key position, as there is expected to be an increase in reporting demands coming from the province as part of ongoing local government reform.

The motion to appoint Beal was approved unanimously by council, and Borne says he is “respected and adored” across the organization. “Mike can recall numbers back to, you know, the early years of his career, and what sections of an agreement something was in,” says Borne. “He’s absolutely exceptional. I could put him in any position in the organization, and he’d be able to fulfill the role because of his understanding of operations and knowledge for the organization.”

That said, finance is Beal’s passion, says Borne, “so [we’re] quite pleased to have him back to his roots, and where he wants to be within the organization.”