Wawa's longtime CAO is no longer employed by the Municipality.
A short release issued by the Municipality of Wawa late Thursday but dated Wednesday, January 23rd states that "effective today, Mr. Chris Wray and the Municipality of Wawa have ended their employment relationship", adding that "the search for a CAO shall commence immediately".
It gives no reason for the move, and JJAM FM's attempts to reach out to Mayor Ron Rody for comment have not been returned.
This does come after 58-year-old Wray was arrested by Greater Sudbury Police in July, charged with sexual assault and criminal harassment stemming from a complaint made by a woman to Superior East OPP at the end of May - that complaint alleged an assault happened in Greater Sudbury in November 2016, and that the involved parties were known to each other.
At the time, a release from the Municipality on behalf of Mayor Rody expressed "grave concern" over the criminal allegations, adding the municipality "takes seriously its obligation to create and maintain a safe workplace environment, free from discrimination and harassment of any kind", further pledging to "cooperate fully with the relevant authorities" and to "continue to provide outstanding community service to the citizens of Wawa".
Wray had been Wawa's CAO/Clerk-Treasurer since 1999 - aside from a stint working for Muskoka Lakes from 2012 to 2014 - and also sat on the rural caucus of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, was also chair of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, and was president of the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks, and Treasurers of Ontario.