In order to increase staff efficiency and decrease council and staff time commitments, Sundre administration is moving to cease operations of more than half of its internal ad hoc committees.
At the Sept. 6 governance meeting, Ryan Leuzinger, the town's chief administrative officer, told council members that a review of the ad hoc committee structure was necessary, noting some committees were redundant, and resulting in duplication of time and effort by staff.
At the end of his presentation council did not make a motion to bring the issue to regular council for approval, leaving administration with the authority to proceed with the plan.
“Staff spends a significant amount of time before, during and after the committee meetings; it is not uncommon to spend three or four hours per committee meeting,” said Leuzinger in his report to council members on Sept. 6. “Therefore, the goal of this review is to increase staff and council efficiency, while still meeting the needs and expectations of the town and community. Leuzinger told council members that three committees should be retained: economic development committee, business/residential servicing engagement committee (BREC) and the sustainable Sundre committee. He noted these three committees were functional or were excellent tools to increase community engagement.
However, Leuzinger proposed eliminating the public works, facilities and media, communications and public relations, and parks and trails/open spaces committees.
He said the public works committee “mirrors” daily tasks of ongoing administrative functions, decreases staff efficiency and increases the time commitment of council.
“Thereby duplicating the staff time utilized for public works capital projects,” said Leuzinger in his report.
Leuzinger said the facilities committee, established to probe current and future town recreational facilities, “mirrors” tasks dedicated to the recreation board, and is therefore redundant, as well as duplicating staff and council time commitments. Leuzinger said the issues brought before the committee can be dealt with at the regularly scheduled governance and council meetings and within the regular functions of administrative staff.
He said his recommendation to eliminate the media, communications and public relations committee is due to the increased staff time commitment. Leuzinger said it has reduced the overall efficiency of positions within administration. He added recommendations coming from the committee should be presented at council. By having council deal with the issues coming before the media, communications and public relations committee it would make its work redundant, he said.
As for the parks and trails/open spaces committee, Leuzinger said its duties and functions typically fall within the scope of the recreation board. He recommended integrating its functions into the duties of the recreation board and adding one staff member.