St Joseph City Manager J. Bruce Woody announced a department level reorganization from twelve departments to eight.

In a news release, Woody noted four goals.

“The first goal is to reduce the number of directors reporting to the City Manager from twelve to eight to free up time for strategic planning and help prevent the need for an assistant in the City Manager’s office,” Woody said.

 

“The second goal is to increase the span of control of the smaller departments, making better use of existing management through consolidation thus reducing the number of departments. Goal three is to more closely associate positions with related missions, which increases work efficiencies between staff and improves customer service. The last goal is to reduce management positions and therefore reduce expenses in the General Fund.”

The Property Maintenance Department and the Customer Assistance Department will become divisions of the Planning and Community Development Department.

The Human Resources Department and Technology Services Department will become divisions of the Administrative Services Department (currently named the Financial Services Department).

In addition to these changes, the Project Manager position in the City Manager’s office will be eliminated.

Lastly, a position in Parks and Recreation Department is being re-purposed to oversee all recreation programs and facilities.

These changes will be implemented prior to the end of Fiscal Year 2012, which is June 30, 2012, and will result in approximately $131,900.00 in combined salary and benefits savings to the General Fund annually.

A presentation of the reorganization plan was planned for a City Council work session April 11. An ordinance could be placed on first reading next week.