Essex County CAO provides a year-in-review for her department

Sandra Zwiers presented a year-in-review to Essex County Council outlining achievements, challenges and priorities since becoming CAO about two and a half years ago; the report notes about 75% of Strategic Plan initiatives are complete or well underway and highlights her interim work at Sun Parlour Home.

Essex County Chief Administrative Officer Sandra Zwiers delivered a year-in-review report to County Council that covered organizational achievements, challenges and priorities since her appointment about two and a half years ago. The report was provided under the County’s Performance Appraisal Policy to keep Council informed. Zwiers previously served as the County’s Director of Financial Services. She described enjoying opportunities to work directly with staff and to learn more about different County operations. Highlights: - Zwiers served as interim Administrator at Sun Parlour Home while continuing CAO duties and reported learning how the Home’s departments operate and working on culture changes there. - The County hosted all six Regional CAOs Committee meetings last year to support collaboration among area municipalities, Windsor and Chatham-Kent. - The report says roughly 75% of initiatives in the 2024–2027 Strategic Plan are complete or well underway. - Zwiers advanced the County’s role in regional affordable housing efforts during 2025 and participated on boards and committees tied to regional priorities. - The County developed a formal advocacy policy and began work on a 2026 Strategic Advocacy Priorities Report. - Zwiers, County Clerk Katherine Hebert and Warden Hilda MacDonald met with each of the seven local municipalities to review how those councils run meetings and to identify possible improvements for County operations. Summary: The report presents progress on strategic initiatives and ongoing regional collaboration while noting administrative focus on learning and internal improvements. Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said County administration can feel distant from residents and encouraged greater public engagement. Details about plans for increased outreach were not specified and remain undetermined at this time.