Press release.
Last evening, Guelph’s Chief Administrative Officer informed Council of changes she is making to the City’s organizational structure to enhance the way the City operates by creating a more practical, straightforward structure.
The changes are expected to improve service delivery and result in quicker, more responsive outcomes for the community and Council. “Local governments are adapting to meet the needs of citizens,” says CAO Ann Pappert. “This change builds on the work we’ve undertaken over the last four years to refine and align functions into very practical working units. Doing so will better position us to deliver excellence in local government by providing outstanding municipal service and value.”
City services will now be managed through one of three service areas instead of five. A new service area called ‘public services’ will be overseen by current executive director of community and social services, Derrick Thomson. A second service area—infrastructure, development and enterprise—will be overseen by current executive director and CFO Al Horsman. A third service area—corporate services—will be overseen by current executive director of corporate and human resources, Mark Amorosi.
Mr. Thomson, Mr. Horsman and Mr. Amorosi will be retitled Deputy CAO for each of their service areas to reflect the breadth and scope of departments within each portfolio, and their role in assisting the CAO to ensure Council’s priorities are implemented effectively and efficiently.
With this change, two of the City’s longest-serving executive directors, Dr. Janet Laird and Derek McCaughan, of Planning, Building, Engineering and Environment, and Operations, Transit and Emergency Services respectively, are retiring from the City of Guelph. Their last day will be November 21, 2014. “I can’t overstate the importance of the contributions these two individuals have made over the past 30 years. Their work has shaped our city; their excellence and commitment to public service are truly admirable. On behalf of City staff, I thank them for their years of outstanding service.”