There will be fewer people at the top in the Town of Okotoks by 2023.
After completing its annual review of the organizational structure, Town administration implemented changes to move from six directors and 22 managers to five directors and 17 managers, effective March 8.
The new structure will see further changes to four directors and 16 managers for 2023.
“We considered measures of alignment, efficiency, equity and regional comparisons of leadership to direct delivery staff,” said CAO Elaine Vincent.
She said the guiding principles of the restructuring included regional alignment, strategic prioritization, and ensuring the Town could focus on leadership with reduced resources.
Based on council’s strategic priorities, which directed the Town to enter into new business areas like transit while maintaining a zero per cent tax increase, the decision was made to reprioritize resources, she said.
Prior to March 8, the Town was divided among six directors: finance and systems, community services, corporate and strategic services, infrastructure and operations, development services and protective services.
Now, the five directors are the chief financial officer (accounting); community health and safety (arts, culture, recreation, community wellness, affordable housing, fire, municipal enforcement and RCMP); corporate services (human resources, legislative services, community engagement, and IT); operations and utilities (transportation, fleet, facilities, waste services, water, and parks); and community growth, investment and sustainability (development services, economic development, engineering and environment and sustainability).
In 2023, the four directors will be in community health and safety (community services, community wellness, affordable housing, fire, municipal enforcement, and RCMP); corporate services (human resources, legislative services, community engagement, IT and finance); operations and utilities (transportation, fleet, facilities, waste and water services, and parks); and community growth, investment and sustainability (planning, economic development, engineering, and environment and sustainability).
The new organizational structure is being phased in over three years to ensure transitions are seamless with proper succession plans as management teams change over, which should minimize cost to taxpayers while ensuring no interruptions to Town services, said Vincent.
“There will be no impact on direct delivery of services,” she said.
