Heather Wright/The Independent

Dawn-Euphemia has hired a new clerk/administrator and deputy clerk and the move has left the Village of Oil Springs in a bit of a bind.

Dawn-Euphemia’s top official announced her retirement earlier this year. The position of deputy clerk also opened up around the same time. Mayor Al Broad says two separate hiring committees were formed for the position to keep the identities of the candidates confidential.

When the two names of Dawn-Euphemia’s new hires came to council, the committees had recommended Oil Springs Clerk Martha Gawley and Jami Hornbostel-Slade Oil Springs’ deputy clerk. 

Gawley, whose husband, Scott, was the deputy chief of the Dawn-Euphemia fire department, was present for the May 4 meeting and, coincidentally, so was Adam Veen, the head of Tourism Sarnia-Lambton who is also an Oil Springs councillor.

Broad joked Veen may have been there to take her back, to which Councillor Jason Meyer responded; “He didn’t look too happy to share, but he was humble about it.”

Current Administrator Donna Clermont has already stopped by the Oil Springs office to offer Dawn-Euphemia’s help throughout the transition.

Broad says employees from Dawn-Euphemia will be able to offer advice or help train Oil Springs two new employees, who have already been hired.

“That’s how small communities work,” said Broad. 

“We help each other where possible.”