After Richard Butts abruptly resigned as Halifax’s chief administrative officer to become the president of Clayton Developments on Wednesday, questions are being raised about how quickly he changed jobs.

“I wonder if it's proper to go from a job where you were OK-ing all these developments to a development company,” said councillor Gloria McCluskey.

McCluskey says if nothing else, the optics aren’t good. But Butts says there is no conflict of interest in his hiring by a large local development company. Clayton Developments is owned by The Shaw Group and has operated in the metro Halifax area for more than 50 years.

Councillor Matt Whitman admits he and Butts have not always agreed.

“But on this matter here, he’s done nothing wrong,” Whitman said. “He fulfilled his contract, he did a good job. He left the city in good shape.”

But Halifax’s mayor says the next CAO may have a new clause in his or her contract to ensure there is a buffer period between positions.

“I don't believe that there's any reason to believe that there's anything untoward happening here,” said mayor Mike Savage. “But I do think on a go-forward basis we should have a look, in terms of the offers we make to a CAO, at least to consider exit provisions.”

Savage says he believes Butts is an honourable man, and Clayton Developments is an honourable company.

Provincial Municipal Affairs Minister Zach Churchill says he isn’t about to interfere.

“I think it's up to them,” Churchill said. “I'm not elected to make decisions on behalf of the city of any other municipal unit. Our municipal leaders are elected and are responsible to their constituents, and so it is up to them on how they want to proceed with matters such as these."

Halifax councillors agree the issue needs more study.

“I know in higher levels of government, provincially and federally, there are such restrictions, but I'm not sure at the municipal level, that scrutiny is required or not,” said David Hendsbee.

There have been no violations of the CAO’s contract. Butts will stay on with the city for a month to help transition to a new CAO.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ron Shaw