Raina named city’s CAO

Infrastructure and planning services boss will replace retired Sandra Clancy

Jasbir Raina, the city’s infrastructure and planning services commissioner, was named Monday as the new chief administrative officer for the City of Peterborough.

Raina replaces Sandra Clancy, who retired at the end of April from the city’s top position after a 38year career at city hall.

City council made the decision Monday night following a closeddoor meeting.

Raina, who begins in his new position on Tuesday, told council “it’s a great honour and privilege to lead a very, very hard-working and professional team here ... They say this is the hot seat, but to me it’s an extremely value-added seat ... I can assure you, I won’t let you down. I will do the best possible, within my limits.”

The city hired Phelps Group to recruit a replacement after Clancy announced her retirement in December.

Mayor Jeff Leal said Raina brings a wealth of experience to the position.

“It says a lot about this community, the quality of individuals that applied ... it bodes well for this community,” Leal said.

“We want to welcome you to this new position, and we look forward to your leadership for a very long period of time.”

Raina had been hired by the city nearly a year ago to replace Cynthia Fletcher as infrastructure and planning services commissioner.

Raina has more than 30 years of public-sector experience, including as commissioner of public works and engineering with the City of Brampton, director of facilities services/ops and maintenance with the City of Brampton, manager of capital planning and asset management with the City of Mississauga and manager of facilities operations and property management with the City of Mississauga.

Raina has a master of engineering degree from the Naval Institute of

They say this is the hot seat, but to me it’s an extremely value-added seat.

Technology in India and a master of business administration from Athabasca University in Alberta. He holds a project management designation through the Project Management Institute and a law certificate from Harvard University.

Later in the meeting, citizen Roy Brady congratulated Raina through a delegation to council about the CAO appointment.

“This should be a pretty interesting, inspiring position for you,” Brady said.

Brady also told Raina that citizens are looking for a “fresh approach” to municipal business, and one way to ensure this freshness is to “reach within the community” for ideas.

“Jasbir, you are new to the community — I think that could be helpful,” Brady said. “Onward!”

Leal further thanked Richard Freymond, the city’s treasurer and commissioner of legislative services, “for a truly admirable job” as interim CAO.

“We know we’ll have your good advice as we go forward,” Leal said. “You’ve left us in a very solid position. On behalf of everyone in Peterborough, I’d like to thank you for that.”

Meanwhile, former mayor Diane Therrien, who was in office when Raina was first hired, tweeted on Monday night that his appointment to CAO was “excellent” news.

“Jasbir is a class act, a visionary and will be a great leader at City Hall,” she wrote.