City hall shakeup

London city hall has started its largest management restructuring in a decade, part of widespread changes aimed at cutting $1.8 million from all civic staffing costs this year.
Against a backdrop of renewed austerity in civic government, the senior management shakeup will result, essentially, in fewer top-level administrators running city hall -- but won't hurt its operations, London's top bureaucrat promises.
"Services (to Londoners) will continue to be the same. The management will be done differently," city manager Jeff Fielding said Tuesday.
"There will be no effect on service delivery."
But it's clear the amount of responsibility on the city management team will be increased, given the looming changes.
Though the exact re-structuring is unclear -- Fielding plans to detail changes to council in April -- one initial change comes at the top of London's planning department.
Rob Panzer, who had been general manager of planning and development, retired Monday after 24 years at city hall. He was sent off with a standing ovation from colleagues and council.
Panzer's job is being re-packaged, with John Fleming, who had been London's director of land use planning, assuming most of the responsibilities in the newly created position of "city planner."
Panzer is one of three significant retirees who likely won't be replaced: Jim Hobbs, the director of fleet facilities, and Dave Leckie, the director of roads, are also leaving within weeks.
The changes to management are the first step in adjustments relating to city staff at all levels.
City brass has promised council it will cut $1.8 million from staffing this year through delayed hirings and a more rigorous process of deciding whether a vacant job should be cut outright rather than filled.
Each position that becomes vacant -- expect about 120 jobs to become open this year -- will be reviewed and require its department to make a case for its continuation.
Most interestingly, just about every job, even if it is approved to continue, will be left vacant for at least 90 days before being filled.