No more environment commissioner: Richmond Hill moves to new model of government

3 commissioners report directly to city manager

Yorkregion.com
October 7, 2020
Sheila Wang

The City of Richmond Hill is moving to a three-commission model in an effort to improve effectiveness.

After operating a four-commission structure for about 10 years, the city has decided to go without a commissioner of environment and infrastructure services (EIS) to move to a new model, according to a news release on Sept. 24.

The city's new top executive team consists of three commissioners of planning and infrastructure services, community services, and corporate and financial services.

The decision was made in a closed session at the Sept. 23 council meeting, according to city spokesperson Libbi Hood.

“It involved labour relations impacts and as such. There is no staff report or video available,” she wrote in an email on Sept. 30, noting city manager Mary-Anne Dempster had the authority to review the municipality's organizational structure and make changes.

Kelvin Kwan, who was previously the city’s commissioner of planning and regulatory services, will now lead the new amalgamated commission -- planning and infrastructure services -- which will oversee development, infrastructure and engineering services, with a focus on planning, designing and building.

Former environment and infrastructure services commissioner Italo Brutto retired on Jan. 31 after serving the city for more than 30 years.

Before being merged into the new commission, the EIS department was focused on long-term corporate asset management planning, delivery of major capital projects related to linear assets, parks, facilities as well as environment services, according to its 2020 draft budget report.

The report also highlighted a list of accomplishments in 2019, including the construction of the new Oak Ridges Library and Lake Wilcox Youth Park.

Paolo Masaro, who worked as the interim EIS commissioner following Brutto’s retirement, will take on the new role of executive director of infrastructure and engineering services within the newly merged commission.

Darlene Joslin will continue to lead the commission of community services to focus on operating and maintaining programs and services, including public works operations, recreation and culture, fire and emergency services and community standards.

Likewise, Sherry Adams will carry on the role of commissioner of corporate and financial services to focus on enabling, monitoring and governance of the work of the city.

The finance commission includes information technology, human resources, finance, communications and the office of the clerk.

Both Joslin and Adams assumed their roles earlier in June following a mass exodus of senior staff.

The three commissioners report directly to the city manager.

The city manager’s office will continue to provide strategic oversight to the organization and support the overall delivery of council priorities.

The office also includes legal services, economic development and introduces a new focus on revenue generation through brand partnerships.

The move to the new structure is part of the city’s broader transformation plan to improve customer experience, increase digital service offerings and modernize service delivery throughout the organization.