Town restructures existing departments to form new Infrastructure Department

Collingwood, ON [16 December  2024] – The Town has restructured the Engineering, Public Works, and Environmental Services Department with a new simplified name – the Infrastructure Department, effective January 1, 2025.

“Recognizing the size and pace of growth in infrastructure and development, the large projects and budgets, and the workload this is creating, Council approved additional resources, including one new leadership position for this Department,” says Sonya Skinner, Chief Administrative Officer. This presented an opportunity for the reorganization and redistribution of services provided under the department, including roads, active transportation, stormwater, as well as water and wastewater from three to four divisions. The new divisions and their primary service focus are:

• Growth and Development will lead growth planning, master plans, and development applications review and administration. Amber Leal started with the Town as the Manager, Growth and Development on Dec 2, 2024.
   
• Infrastructure Projects will lead asset management, capital plans, and major capital projects delivery, including the $270M Water Treatment Plant expansion.  Ken Kaden was promoted to the position of Infrastructure Project Manager.
   
• Public Works will lead the operation and maintenance of roads, active transportation, stormwater, sanitary laterals and mains. The division will also manage minor capital projects delivery related to these services, right-of-way policies and permits, utility locates, stormwater and soil compliance and transit. Daniel Cole has been the Manager, Public Works for over five years and will continue to lead this team.
   
• Water & Wastewater will lead the operation and maintenance of the full water system (i.e., treatment, reservoirs and water pipes) and wastewater treatment plant, and holds the responsibility of meeting regulatory compliance of the water and wastewater systems. The division will also manage minor capital projects, delivery related to these services, backflow and sewage use by-law compliance, and water/wastewater billing.  Peggy Slama, current Director of Public Works, Engineering and Environmental Services, will fill the new role of Manager, Water & Wastewater and lead the operational teams in water and wastewater treatment. As part of this transition, Peggy will also be the Project Manager for the Town’s Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion, a major project for which a Class EA study will commence in 2025.

“These changes are designed to clarify authority for decisions and actions, improve communication, streamline processes, and enable quicker customer service response times. In addition, this reorganization creates new opportunities for professional growth and development within our Town team,” notes Skinner.

“We are very proud of the Water Treatment Plant expansion that is in flight and are turning our attention to our Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion, which is estimated to be worth up to $300M, and which will continue into the 2030s.  We need a strong and experienced leader for it, and I have asked Peggy Slama to focus on this large project,” notes Skinner.  “We are recruiting a Director of Infrastructure to oversee the Infrastructure Department. This recruitment has commenced, and Peggy has graciously continued to lead the entire portfolio through this transition period. I’m so proud to lead a progressive staff team as we grow, continue to become a more sophisticated and efficient organization, and continue to support a vibrant and successful Town.”