Ottawa (October 8, 2008) - The City of Ottawa has launched an organizational realignment that will improve the way municipal services are delivered to citizens, strengthen community development and better position the municipality to address the fiscal challenges of the future, City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick announced today.

“Our challenge is to deliver on Council’s priorities, ensure we deliver services with a ‘citizens first’ approach and achieve $100 million in efficiency savings by 2010,” said Kirkpatrick. “We have already made a very good start, and I believe this change is what is needed for us to be successful over the next two years.”

Today’s restructuring begins the change that will support more focus on achieving Council’s highest priorities, laid out in the City’s Strategic Plan 2007-2010, and create better aligned, leaner and more customer-focused service teams.

Among the changes announced today:

• The City Manager’s role will focus on leading the implementation of the change agenda announced today, the financial sustainability of the municipality, the implementation of Council’s highest priority projects, improving reporting to Council, governance support and intergovernmental relations, and responsibility for French Language Services.

The City’s administration will be realigned under two Deputy City Managers (DCM); both with specific mandates for the transformation of the way services are delivered.

• Steve Kanellakos has been appointed DCM, City Operations, with a focus on improving service to citizens while achieving savings.
• Nancy Schepers has been appointed DCM, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability, with a focus on planning and building Ottawa as a strong and sustainable City into the future.
• Rick O’Connor has been appointed City Clerk and City Solicitor by Council. The City Clerk’s and City Solicitor’s offices will be merged to improve governance support and maximize the City’s ability to take advantage of new legislative authorities provided by the new Municipal Act.

This new structure will help further a management culture focused on the goals of finding efficiencies and continually improving services, which are key to the City’s long-term sustainability.

As part of the realignment, Kirkpatrick announced an external administrative support and management hiring freeze, effective immediately.

“These are the first steps in accelerating improvements in the way we serve the public,” said Kirkpatrick. “As more changes take effect, I know that Council, the people we serve and our staff will realize the benefits of a more sustainable and successful City of Ottawa.”

As part of the restructuring, Kirkpatrick announced the departure of senior managers Richard Hewitt, Stephen Finnamore and Pierre Pagé from their current roles.

“The changes I have announced are necessary and will improve how quickly we are able to accomplish the change we need,” said Kirkpatrick. “At the same time, I want to acknowledge that these three individuals have among them nearly a century of public service in the municipal world. All have made significant contributions and each has changed the face of the City of Ottawa for the better. I am proud to have worked with them. They have my thanks and admiration for all of their contributions. ”

For more information:
3-1-1