After 25 years with the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, director of operations Sheldon Randall is retiring. Councillors were eager to express their admiration for the longtime staffer.

Lord Mayor Betty Disero and several councillors said their farewells to Randall during a committee of the whole general meeting on Monday.

“This is my first term as Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake and, I have to tell you, it’s been a pretty interesting term,” Disero said.

“We’ve had flooding, we’ve had the pandemic—who knows what’s gonna come next. But I just want to thank Sheldon Randall for working with me, or us working together in the way that we did during our second year of this term,” she said.

Randall was acting chief administrator when the pandemic struck in 2020.

“Sheldon worked day and night during that period of time and, notwithstanding the fact that sometimes Sheldon and I disagree, we can always hug it out at the end to tell each other that we respect our opinions,” she said.

“I’m going to miss his practical, innovative ideas the most and I hope he has a wonderful retirement.”

“I want to personally say thank you,” Coun. Allan Bisback said.

“When I had questions, when I was trying to learn and understand it didn’t matter what day or what time it was, you were available,” Bisback said, noting it is his first time as a councillor.

“I am sure that I will see you at the Sandtrap.”

“He truly always wants to do the right thing and I want people to understand that,” Coun. Erwin Wiens said about Randall, whom he considers a personal friend as well as colleague.

“I honestly have to say there’s a guy that worked hard for this community.”

Coun. Gary Burroughs echoed the sentiment expressed by Disero and Bisback that Randall has been a source of guidance for councillors.

“He’s been my go-to-guy as long as I’ve been involved with politics in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and that’s a long time,” Burroughs said.

Randall started with the town in 1996 as an engineer. He climbed the ranks throughout the years before becoming the director of operations in 2015.

Randall has had a significant impact on the development of the town and was pivotal in the response to COVID-19, the press release says.

“The Town extends its thanks to Sheldon for his commitment to the Corporation and the community. He will be missed.”

Announcements will be made soon about who the acting director of operations will be and a recruitment process will be initiated in the coming weeks, the release says.

Randall’s last day will be April 1.