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Pendrel is Kamloops last medal hope Page A25
THURSDAY
Thursday, August 9, 2012 X Volume 25 No. 64
Cirque prepares for arrival in Kamloops Page B1
THIS WEEK
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ON YOUR MARK Allissa Savage (right) primes herself for the Division 4 girls’ butterfly race at the Okanagan Regional Swimming Championships on Saturday, Aug. 4, at Brock Pool. For meet results, see page A29 George Wycherley/KTW
City sees nothing wrong with size of staff By Andrea Klassen STAFF REPORTER andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
An internal audit of the organizational practices that found Kamloops has more managers and staff than other B.C. communities of its size hasn’t led to a reduction in city workers. According to an in-house update released under the Freedom of Information Act last month, the city chose not to make “significant changes” to its organizational structure following the report by Born Consulting, a local-government management firm — an audit originally conducted in 2008.
But, city parks, recreation and culture director Byron McCorkell said, that’s because the larger number of staff identified didn’t represent that many positions. The original report showed the city has just under nine per cent more staff than other communities of a similar size — 659 employees, compared to an average of 607. It also has three per cent more people in management roles. “We’re talking about two positions,” said McCorkell. “So, really, you have to look at what services we’re providing in comparison with the other communities . . . and, overall, we feel our management group is in line.
“That’s what that number is saying to us. Statistically, we may have a couple more bodies, but overall we’re in pretty good shape.” McCorkell said it’s also worth noting the original report showed the city’s operating costs were seven per cent lower than average. “The bottom line in any conversation is how cost-effective are you? And, we feel we’re quite good in that regard. “So, we’re going to continue doing what we do.” According to the original report, the city is delivering “quality services to its residents on a similar cost basis as other similar-sized communities.”
CHEESEBURGER
However, it cautions the city against expanding much more than it has, calling any further staffing increases “not possible to justify.” McCorkell said that’s generally a recommendation the city has taken to heart. “We’re not going to go into a big hiring mode,” he said. “We’re going to continue to do what we do and fill vacancies. But, we’re not going to be expanding greatly.” According to an update looking at how the city has implemented the report during the last several years, all requests for new staff must now undergo a business-case analysis before they’re considered at budget time.
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