The Town of Gibsons is folding its Parks and Community Services, Public Works and Engineering departments into a single, larger department.
The new Department of Engineering and Infrastructure Services will be headed by Dave Newman, the current director of engineering.
In a release announcing the change, chief administrative officer Emanuel Machado said, “Integrating these three related departments will promote better communication between our staff, streamline training opportunities, allow for cross-training of employees and create efficiencies in our operations. This will enable us to enhance the services we can provide to our residents and ensure we have adequate staff capacity to effectively maintain the assets we have been entrusted with.”
The Town is also bringing on a new staff member, Daniel Tardif, who will become manager of maintenance and operations as of Dec. 11. Machado said Tardif will work with Newman to “oversee the integration of the Parks and Community Services and Public Works departments.”
Machado told Coast Reporter that the departmental realignment will not mean any change to the day-to-day duties of existing parks and community services director Wendy Gilbertson or director of public works Greg Foss.
“They maintain their current roles and continue to direct staff in their respective departments,” Machado said.
“Knowledge transfer and process improvements will be a big focus in the next few years.”
