A shift is underway at Nanaimo city hall, as its senior management team launches a reorganization and lays the groundwork to hire new staff.
The City of Nanaimo announced organizational changes today it says are aimed at supporting the roll out of a core services review, completed last month.
The city will recruit employees to fill five new positions at city hall, including a manager of strategic planning and policy, and an employee to handle Freedom of Information requests.
New employees will cost a total of $451,000 and are being paid with money from three vacant senior management positions, according to city staff members.
Changes will also see new responsibilities added to the roles of management. Victor Mema, director of finance, will now be the city’s chief financial officer and responsible for additional areas around information and communication technology, enterprise risk management and RCMP support services.
The chief administrative office will now include a city clerk, as well as communications, the new manager of strategic planning and policy and administration, and Dale Lindsay, director of community development will handle environment, culture and heritage, social and multicultural planning.
“A preliminary examination of the recommendations contained in the Core Services Review reveals the complexity of the decisions council and administration will face over the coming months,” said Samra in a press release. “To be in a position to implement any recommendations endorsed by council while concurrently supporting them in carrying out their Strategic Plan Update, staff and resources must be situated in the best places possible.”
Samra said this is the first time senior management has been central in deciding what the organizational structure looks like and there was also consultation with city council.
More details to come.