The City of Greater Sudbury creates new departments, merges old ones

The City of Greater Sudbury says it is overhauling its organizational structure over the next several months in order to better meet community needs and evolving priorities. 

In a news release, Mayor Paul Lefebvre said the city is at a pivotal point in its growth and these changes are being made to produce a stronger, and more efficient organization.

"By realigning departments and focusing on key areas like community wellbeing, growth and development, housing and community safety, and environmental sustainability, we are ensuring the city is better positioned to deliver on council's strategic priorities and meet the evolving needs of our residents," said Lefebvre. 

"This redesign is about building a responsive and future-ready organization that supports the long-term success of our community."

The news release says the new structure will keep the current contingent of four general managers, but it says department names and some functions and alignments within them will change.

Community Infrastructure Department

• This renamed department will include engineering services, linear infrastructure, water and wastewater and environmental services.

• A new general manager will be recruited.

Corporate Services Department

• This department will continue to manage corporate services such as human resources and organizational development, legal and clerks services, information technology, financial services, corporate security and bylaw, fleet and facilities.

• The relatively new service of data, analytics and change will move from the office of the chief administrative officer (CAO) to corporate services.

Emergency Services and Community Wellbeing Department

• This new department will merge the current community safety and community development departments (minus transit services).

• It will include fire services and paramedic services, and each of these services will have their own dedicated chief.

• A new general manager will be recruited.

Growth, Development and Environmental Sustainability Department

• Economic development, building services and planning services will join together for greater collaboration in this new department.

• The department will also include transit services and Infrastructure and capital planning services. 

• A new general manager will be recruited.

The city says the CAO will continue to oversee communications and community engagement and the organization's large, strategic projects such as the event centre and the cultural hub at Tom Davies Square.

"Given the number of current senior staff vacancies and upcoming retirements, we are recruiting the next generation of executive leaders at the city and taking the opportunity to realign responsibilities across departments to improve efficiency and meet future service demands," said interim CAO Kevin Fowke.

The city says implementation of the new structure will take place over the next several months, and information will be regularly updated on the city's website.