Council approved a bylaw during its May 9 session, confirming Samuel Cardarelli, the town’s recreation and tourism director, as interim chief administrative officer (CAO). His appointment takes effect retroactive to May 4 and results from a closed session of council that day. 

The May 4 closed session of council took place more than a week after the April 25 regular session. During that meeting Dussault criticized council for not taking action to deal with the results of a harassment complaint she filed under the municipal Code of Conduct against Mayor Paula Assaly in November 2020. 

Dussault’s complaint resulted in an investigation by then-Integrity Commissioner John Saywell who filed a report to the municipality early in 2021. The report included recommended sanctions to the deal with the complaint. Last December Dussault also filed a $200,000 lawsuit against the mayor and the Town of Hawkesbury. 

Dussault told council during its April 25 session that she received a letter from the municipality stating that results of a remedial action investigation would be discussed but the subject was not on the agenda for the closed session part of the April 25 council meeting. Mayor Assaly said that the report would be a topic for discussion during a closed session.