Should the office of the city’s chief administrative officer be overseeing New Westminster’s cultural services? That’s a question that chief administrative officer Lisa Spitale is being asked to explore.
In September, the city’s arts commission passed a recommendation to ask council to direct staff to undertake a review of the city’s organization structure with regards to cultural services, in order to provide options to build, enhance or develop the cultural services division. Once overseen by the former parks, culture and recreation department, cultural services now fall under the domain of the office of the chief administrative officer.
According to a report to council, members of the arts commission expressed concern at their September meeting that the city’s cultural services portfolio was now less prominent under the CAO, and members were unclear about their specific roles and responsibilities.
On Dec. 10, council approved a motion to direct the chief administrative officer to review and respond to the arts commission’s recommendation. In addition to cultural services like arts services, museum and heritage services (including the museum, Irving House and the Samson V), and the New Media Gallery, the chief administrative officer’s office also oversees communications, economic development, major projects and Anvil Centre.
