St. Thomas Selects Thomas Thayer as New City Clerk/Director of Legislative Services
The City of St. Thomas is pleased to announce that Thomas Thayer has been hired as the new City Clerk/Director of Legislative Services. Thayer will officially join the City’s administration on May 11, 2026.
Thayer joins St. Thomas from the Municipality of Bayham, where he has served as Chief Administrative Officer and Deputy Clerk, leading major corporate initiatives, modernizing municipal operations, and strengthening legislative services. His leadership recently contributed to Bayham receiving the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario’s prestigious E.A. Danby Award, recognizing the municipality for revolutionizing By Law Enforcement and Building Code Administration – a transformative effort that Thayer designed and led.
In addition to his operational leadership, Thayer has been an active contributor to advancing the municipal field province wide. He recently presented the findings of his Master of Public Administration capstone research at the Ontario Municipal Administrators’ Association 2025 Fall Workshop, further elevating his profile as a thought leader in municipal governance and administration.
With more than a decade of municipal experience across several communities – a and a reputation for innovation, collaboration, and evidence based decision making – Thayer brings deep expertise in governance, public administration, legislative compliance, and transparent service delivery.
The City first announced in February that this key leadership role would be filled following the retirement of long-serving City Clerk Maria Konefal, whose retirement is effective May 1, 2026.
“We are excited to welcome Thomas Thayer to the City of St. Thomas. Thomas brings an impressive mix of experience, professionalism, and leadership that will serve our community well,” said Mayor Joe Preston. “His dedication to open, accountable municipal government aligns perfectly with our City’s values, and we look forward to the contributions he will make as part of our leadership team.”
"The St. Thomas region is growing quickly. This brings new challenges, but also new opportunities,” said Thayer. “I am looking forward to working with both City Council and a talented staff to move St. Thomas forward."
Thayer’s background includes extensive work in municipal management, election administration, policy development, public engagement, and legislative compliance. He holds both a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Science in Urban Geography, as well as several professional designations including Certified Municipal Officer and Accredited Ontario Municipal Clerk.
The City of St. Thomas looks forward to welcoming Thayer into this important role as we continue to strengthen our legislative services and support transparent, effective municipal governance.
Click here to view the official press release.