by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
A proposed bill from the mayor’s office has called for a “substantial reorganization” of many administrative offices in the executive branch. The ordinance, which was introduced following recommendations from a mayoral transition team subcommittee last week, is currently under review from the City Council’s Finance and Rules committees.
“What we’re trying to do is work towards our main goal,” said mayor’s office spokesperson Heather Murphy. “From the beginning, the mayor has been clear that he wants to streamline government in a manner that is both effective and responsible to the taxpayers.”
Among the current provisions of the bill is the elimination of the Regulatory and Environmental Services Department. All divisions under RESD, which include Equal Opportunity, Mosquito Control and Consumer Affairs, will be reassigned to other executive departments.
“What we realized when we were looking at RESD, is that it’s like a land of lost toys,” said Murphy. “It’s a collection of disparate parts that don’t necessarily have anything to do with each other. We wanted to put them in areas where they belong. It makes sense.”
Murphy said there would be no salary or job cuts as a result of the departmental shifts. Chances of any physical moves are possible, though not likely.
“It’s an effort to reorganize our efforts and it makes sense from an efficiency standpoint,” she said. “By the grace of the City Council we may be authorized to move forward with it and we’re hopeful they’ll see eye-to-eye with us.”
Council president Lad Daniels supported the majority of the bill saying, “when you have a new administration coming in and they have departments reporting directly to them, you need to allow for some flexibility while they figure out how they want to do it.
“I feel confident in what I see. His organizational structure seems to fit in with what he wants to do for the city and it won’t affect our policy. Unless the mayor wants to make huge, dramatic shifts, you should let him set the tone. He put his logic into it.”
Council member Warren Alvarez, who chairs the Finance Committee, concurred with Daniels, but with one exception.
“Originally, [Mayor John Peyton] wanted to downgrade the Agriculture Department and move it into the Neighborhoods Department,” said Alvarez. “That wasn’t a good fit and it needed explaining. We’ve already told him that.”
According to Alvarez, Peyton agreed to amend that portion of the bill by renaming the department an “extension service.”
“It will remain where it is,” said Alvarez. “The Agricultural Department receives much of its funding from Federal and State dollars and it shouldn’t have to go through another department.
“Aside from that, I don’t see any problems with the bill, yet.”
The ordinance remains on its first reading and will be revisited at the next committee meeting.