Cornwall Shakes Things Up at City Hall with New Hires, New Roles, and a Focus on the Future

After years of interim appointments and patchwork leadership, the City of Cornwall is officially turning the page. As of August 5, 2025, a major reorganization at the top level of administration is in place, complete with new hires, new titles, and what the City calls a “comprehensive senior leadership team.” Translation? The people in charge are no longer placeholders — and they’re ready to get to work.

“This restructuring is about building the right foundation for Cornwall’s future,” said Chief Administrative Officer Tim Mills. “Our residents rely on us to deliver essential services while strengthening municipal relationships. That means improving fiscal responsibility, encouraging new ideas, and making thoughtful decisions that set the city up for long-term success.”

It’s a big shift, and one that comes after a bumpy stretch. Since January 2023, Cornwall has seen wave after wave of leadership turnover — from department heads to senior staff — with many stepping in temporarily to fill gaps.

The City gave a special shout-out to Mellissa Morgan, Lisa Smith, and Matthew Stephenson for holding the fort during this transition, crediting their “dedication and leadership while serving in interim roles.”

Now, with the new leadership structure finalized, the City says it’s aiming to strengthen service delivery, boost accountability, and get back on track with its long-term goals.

Here’s the new senior team lineup:

• Tim Mills – Chief Administrative Officer
• Matthew Stephenson – Deputy CAO and Fire Chief
• Tracey Bailey – Treasurer and General Manager of Finance
• Mellissa Morgan – General Manager of Human Services
• Michael Fawthrop – General Manager of Infrastructure & Municipal Works
• Bruce Donig – Interim General Manager of Human Resources
• Bill Lister – Chief of Paramedic Services
• Wayne Meagher – Director of Legal and Legislative Services
• Katherine Wells – Director of Communications, Government Relations & Strategic Planning
• Ryan Windle – Director of Development and Building Services
• Louis Savard – Director of IT, Digitization, Innovation & Special Projects

Still to come: a new General Manager of Parks, Recreation, Arts and Culture. Until then, the CAO and Deputy CAO will cover that portfolio.

Mills says the team is focused on doing more with less. “Through strategic restructuring and dual portfolio responsibilities, we’ve strengthened our organizational capacity while maintaining fiscal responsibility. We are committed to building on Cornwall’s strengths while positioning the organization for future growth and excellence.”

The leadership shakeup doesn’t stop at the top. Several new faces are joining the team across departments:

• Ryan Windle is a new hire, stepping in to lead planning, building, and economic development.
• Bruce Donig is taking over HR in an interim capacity, helping with people strategies and workplace culture.
• Louis Savard, already known at City Hall, is expanding his portfolio to include digital transformation and innovation.
• Jordan Suffel joins as Supervisor of Planning.
• Marie-Josée Lambert comes in as HR Manager, focused on talent development.
• Love S. Babajide steps in as Manager of Labour and Employee Relations.
• Farhana Meghji, in a unique partnership with Cornwall Police Services, will take on the new role of Equity, Belonging and Culture Specialist.

Deputy CAO Matthew Stephenson — now wearing two hats as both CAO deputy and Fire Chief — says this new structure will help build a stronger City Hall from the inside out. “I am truly excited to step into this new role and work alongside a dedicated team,” he said. “By working together across departments and embracing new ways of thinking, we’re positioning Cornwall to meet the challenges of today and build a resilient, thriving community for the future.”

In short: fewer vacancies, clearer roles, and a leadership team that (finally) looks ready to hit the ground running.

As the dust settles on this restructuring, City officials say their top priority is still the people of Cornwall — delivering services better, smarter, and more consistently.

Or, as Mills put it: “This experienced team brings the stability and expertise needed to advance our strategic priorities and deliver quality municipal services.”