Nelson Santos reflects on first year as North Huron Chief Administrative Officer
BY SCOTT STEPHENSON
It’s been just over a year since North Huron’s latest Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Nelson Santos, burst upon Huron County’s municipal scene, and so The Citizen sat down with the man for a quick conversation all about his first year on the job.
As CAO, Santos has a bustling schedule - on the day of this particular interview, The Citizen found him at the Blyth Fire Hall, engaging in an emergency preparedness planning exercise. “We’re reviewing roles and responsibilities so everyone understands how they support emergency response,” he explained. “In a few months, we’ll run an exercise to put what we’ve learned into practice… ensuring community safety and maintaining strong emergency services is always on our radar. We need to make sure our teams have the tools to respond and keep the community moving.”
Building that sense of co-ordination has been a defining theme of his first year on the job. “Being engaged, and having the doors truly open is certainly an important part of learning about the community,” Santos said. “This past year has been about team-building internally, but also re-establishing that connection with the public.”
Balancing public expectations with municipal realities is an ongoing challenge. “How far can we go with the level of services? I want to try to meet the expectations of the public, and do it efficiently and effectively,” he said. “It’s about understanding what services matter and what’s important to the community as a whole.”
Despite the challenges, Santos said he has been struck by the passion of local residents and community groups. “We’ve been able to work with them and engage with them to help accomplish shared goals and make progress a little faster,” he noted.
Building those relationships has been one of the most rewarding parts of his first year.
“One of the high points has been getting to know the community and feeling that reception in return,” he said. “Establishing a strong relationship with the community has been very meaningful.”
Santos expressed gratitude for how he has been received in the community. “I’m thankful for the reception I’ve received - the openness and willingness to have me involved,” he said. “It’s helped me learn and become more familiar with the people and places that make this a great community.”
For Santos, gaining a deeper appreciation of North Huron’s identity has been key. “Understanding the traditions, the heritage and what creates that sense of community in North Huron has been a true highlight,” he pointed out, adding that the municipality has made a conscious effort to shift how it interacts with residents. “We’ve been opening the door and changing the conversation - showing the township is here to support residents,” he told The Citizen.
That approach, he believes, is already producing results. “Seeing ideas turn into completed projects is something I take pride in,” Santos explained. “We’re ticking those boxes - planning roadwork, responding to emergencies and ensuring resources are in place.”
Of course, there is still plenty of work ahead. Employee recruitment continues to be a challenge, particularly with new projects like the Blyth daycare, which will require several staff members once construction is complete.
Infrastructure is another priority for North Huron staff. “We’re putting grant dollars to work and moving projects like the Blyth sewage treatment plant forward,” Santos said. “We’re also moving ahead with the standpipe project to increase water capacity for Wingham.” Increasing community engagement will also remain front and centre. “We’re building on last year by supporting groups and attracting more volunteers,” he said. At its core, he believes the municipality’s strength is, and will continue to be, the people who live there. “Overall, I see the sense of community continuing to grow, supported by being open and approachable.”
Santos is optimistic about North Huron’s trajectory. “I see the future continuing to grow, with new investment in both business and residential development,” he said. “There are exciting opportunities for attainable housing in Blyth and Wingham.”
Looking back on his whirlwind first year, Santos feels he has learned important lessons about patience and perspective. “Set a good pace and take the time to gather information from all sides before reaching solutions,” he would retroactively advise his past self from one year ago. “Building a solid team and working together creates a path forward.”
Looking ahead to the future, he’ll be reminding his future self to stay connected. “Have you connected with each department personally?” he’ll ask himself. “Make sure there are no silos - maintain communication and keep building the sense of team. Don’t lose touch with programs, projects, or people.”
At the end of the day, Santos readily acknowledges that municipal leadership comes with its share of challenges. “The phrase - you can’t please all the people all the time - that’s real,” he said. “It’s about bringing that all together and finding ways to create success stories and make progress.”