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With the mayor citing the need “to do better” when it comes to telling Windsor’s stories, city hall is undertaking a shakeup in its communications department.
“I think it’s fair to say that we know we can do better than we have been doing, and we see the need to do better to tell the story of things that are going on here,” Dilkens told the Star.
As part of the current changes, the City of Windsor’s long-time manager of communications has taken a job with the Windsor Public Library, and another communications staffer has departed city hall.
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Starting this week, Jason Moore, who’s been the city’s spokesperson since 2010, is managing the local library’s marketing and communications.
Moore told the Star he was offered the position, which had been vacant for roughly a year following the retirement of long-time library manager Chris Woodrow.
“It’s a change, and I’m a proponent of change,” Moore said. “I’ve been with the city in the same role for 14 years, and I think someone else might have a different voice and different ideas.
“I’m stepping into a position that’s in need of some work, and I really want to make a difference there — I want to go where I’m needed.”
Dilkens called Moore’s move to the library “amicable,” and that, “moving forward, we’re happy,” since he has the experience to help improve communications.
“(Moore) adds value, and we’re happy to have him in that role and help bolster marketing and communications at the Windsor Public Library,” Dilkens said.
The city posted for a new senior manager of communications and customer service earlier in August. In a mayoral decision on Thursday, Dilkens confirmed the appointment of Alena Sleziak as acting senior manager of communications and customer service. Sleziak was previously manager of the city’s customer and contact centre.
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Dilkens said another person departed the city’s communications department but he did not identify that individual, and would not say whether the person was terminated.
Janice Guthrie, the city’s chief financial officer, told the Star she could not discuss personnel matters, including whether an individual had departed a position.
Most people would agree the City of Windsor is a trusted source
Moore’s move comes on the heels of several less amicable departures from city hall, including city planner Thom Hunt, who filed a $2.8-million wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the corporation in July, and city engineer Chris Nepszy, who filed a $1.55-million wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the corporation in March.
Separately, the mayor’s office is seeking a director of communications. The temporary full-time position had been occupied by Pam Mady, who has filled the role, off and on, on a contractual basis for Dilkens and previous Windsor mayors.
The mayor’s office will also soon post for a new projects, marketing, and communications advisor. Pedro Kantati, who has filled the role since 2022, has accepted a permanent job elsewhere, Dilkens said.
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“I think what we want to do is make sure we’re bolstering the communications department. We want to make sure we have good strategic communications people in place who are thinking forward, who are looking at the calendar.
“We’ve seen some challenges in the general media market in terms of staffing. We really feel it’s important that residents get factual, good information from a trusted source.
“I think most people would agree that the City of Windsor as an organization is a trusted source.”
Ward 4 Coun. Mark McKenzie, who chairs the Windsor Public Library board, told the Star the library is “streamlining” its communications and marketing position, which used to be rolled in with other job duties.
“In this day and age, you need someone who can just focus on marketing and social media. I think Jason is a perfect fit for that position.”
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Currently, the library has several staff members doing communications and marketing work part-time, McKenzie said.
“We said we really need to streamline this. We need to get better so things are more focused, and to get the public more involved and have more engagement with our social media — we need to take it to that next level.”
According to the most recent Sunshine List of Ontario’s public sector employees, Moore earned $139,000 in 2023, while Sleziak’s reported income was $124,000 last year.
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