Rick Stiebel
The Chronicle
Call it a shuffling of the deck.
The Town of Ladysmith announced major changes to the organization’s structure of town staff that includes the elimination of one position, the addition of two new functions and a change in duties for several others.
Effective Sept. 29, the position of director of corporate services, vacant since the retirement of Sandy Bowden, will not be filled.
A new exempt position will be created to support council and the city manager.
That will be a non-union position and should be posted in the near future, said Town of Ladysmith CEO Guillermo Ferrero.
The title of manager of administrative services, currently held by Joanna Winter, will change to manager of legislative services. Winter will also take on the statutory position of corporate officer and will report directly to Ferrero, who took over as city manager in June.
Ladysmith is hiring a new part-time communications advisor to provide the majority of communications work previously handled by Winter. Details of that position or contract are still being finalized, Ferrero said.
The human resources department, previously under Bowden, will now be handled by the director of financial services.
The changes were approved at the Sept. 19 regular meeting of council, and have been endorsed by the town’s labour-management committee.
Recent changes at the senior staff level presented an opportunity for the town to explore a different organizational structure to support council’s strategic priorities and utilize human resources and finances more effectively, Ferrero explained.
“I am excited about the benefits that these changes will bring to the town, and look forward to continuing to work closely with our talented and dedicated staff to serve our community and council,” Ferrero said.
