The city's emergency management department is on the move.
Emergency management services have fallen under the jurisdiction of the city administrator for several years, but they've recently been moved to the fire department.
"It was directed by council to move. It was thought it was a better fit," said Fire Chief Tim Armstrong. "I will ultimately be responsible for emergency management for all the other departments."
Dave Jones, the city's manager of emergency management, will now report to Armstrong, rather than city administrator Paul Daminato.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr, chair of the city's emergency advisory committee, said he recommended the move to council.
"I sensed a real need to have a lot of focus locally," said Puchmayr, who was named chair of the committee after being re-elected to council in the November 2011 civic election. "I think there is a way of making it more efficient."
Puchmayr said the city is very fortunate that its fire chief has an "incredible background" in emergency preparedness. He believes the new delivery model will allow the city to better deliver services and could cut costs by avoiding duplication of services between the fire and emergency services departments.
"There can be (savings). You are not duplicating services, you are not duplicating materials," he said. "Everything is focused through the fire department."
Along with Jones and Armstrong, Insp. Phil Eastwood of the New Westminster Police Department is responsible for emergency planning and preparedness in New Westminster.
Daminato said responsibility for emergency preparedness has shifted around from various departments, until settling in his department a number of years ago.
"In terms of our overall efficiency, Tim can use some assistance in some areas where the emergency service staff have some expertise," he said. "We are so lucky to have somebody like Tim who has pretty amazing experience in emergency services, both locally and nationally."
While emergency planning now falls under the domain of the fire department, Puchmayr said Jones and Cory McLaren, the city's emergency planning assistant, will remain at city hall for the time being.
"I think the chief, his long-term goal would be to have them move there," Daminato said of the Glenbrook fire hall. "There is no definite date. There is no date he is working toward."
tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
