The retirement of two longtime City of Burnaby employees has resulted in some shuffling of positions at city hall.
Lambert Chu, the former director of engineering, is now a deputy city manager, alongside Chad Turpin.
Chu replaces Rick Earle, who retired this spring. Barry Davis, deputy director of engineering, is now acting director of the department.
"I think the fortunate part is I've been with the city over 20 years and I know the city well enough," Chu said in a phone interview recently. "My background with the city has also helped me pick up the information, too, in a quicker way."
Chu started his new position at the beginning of August. He oversees city management of the fire and police departments, while Turpin oversees the city clerk's department, legal department, citizen support services and the filming office.
While he is enjoying the new position, Chu said he also enjoyed his time in engineering.
"I definitely miss the engineering department," he said. "My entire professional career, I've been involved in engineering projects. I'm no longer involved in the capital projects - building roads, replacing sewer pipe - but I'm dealing with a whole new set of challenges."
The nature of issues in each city department is similar, he added, though the issues themselves might vary.
"We have to provide efficient, costeffective services within a community within financial restraints," Chu said, adding the main issues revolve around staff - staff recruitment, retention and succession planning.
"We definitely have an aging workforce in some divisions," he said.
The goal is to have "an orderly progression for people coming into the organization and moving through the organization," Chu added.
Succession planning is what led to Chu becoming deputy city manager.
"Hopefully my experience in the engineering department will help me to do a good job in my new position," he said.
The retirement of Basil Luksun, director of the city's planning and building department, led to another shift at city hall. Deputy director Lou Pelletier is now the director of the department, after serving as acting director after Luksun retired at the end of May.
Kim Munro, director of human resources, also retired this year and has not yet been replaced.
The deputy director spots for the human resources, engineering, and planning and building departments are all currently vacant, according to the city's organizational chart on the burn aby.ca website.
Anne Skipsey is no longer listed as acting city clerk on the chart - instead, Maryann Manuel, who was previously Mayor Derek Corrigan's executive assistant, is listed in that position.
