City hall reshuffle cuts 6 senior jobs, merges departments
Posted Jul 12, 2016 04:58:58 PM.
Last Updated Jul 14, 2016 06:27:52 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA –The city will save $2.7 million, under the new organizational structure announced at city hall on Wednesday.
City Manager Steve Kanellakos, who took over the job in May, says the changes will cost taxpayers $1.29 million right away in severance payments.
Kanellakos sent a memo to Mayor Jim Watson and Members of Council on Wednesday saying “effective today, a streamlined and empowered senior leadership team will oversee the city’s administration.”
“This strengthens the organization’s direct lines of accountability with 9 senior leaders, down from 21,” the memo said.
Mayor Jim Watson says he’s optimistic about the shake-up.
“There was unanimous support for these changes. They make sense,” said Watson during a media scrum Wednesday afternoon.
Watson added there will not be much change to public service.
Kanellakos said by forming a smaller team of senior leaders he hopes to focus city priorities and increase the city’s operational effectiveness.
“Each senior leaders, and their respective departments, will have a clear mandate and report directly to me,” said Kanellakos in a memo to city council.
The reorganization means larger departments and added responsibilities for the remaining senior leaders.
John Manconi, formerly General Manager of the Transit Services Department, is now the head of the Transportation Services Department and will take over everything under the transportation umbrella including planning, traffic services and implementing light rail operations.
Public Works and Environmental Services were merged into one department under General Manager Kevin Wylie.
In total, the executive reshuffle trimmed 8 positions, but more job cuts could be on the horizon in the coming months as Kanellakos continues to look for new ways to increase city efficiency.
