Time to restructure Concord city management?
The retirement of Concord’s long-time autocratic city manager would be a good time to restructure city government. At present, the two deputy city managers are really just glorified department heads since most departments report directly to the city manager. Grouping departments such as police, fire, general services and parks under a deputy city manager for operations and departments such as finance, human services, planning and assessing under a deputy city manager for administration would equalize spans of control and provide a promotion opportunity for more department heads.
Unfortunately, the city has advertised the position of deputy city manager for finance which would leave both deputies on the administration side. This position should be frozen until restructuring is considered.