New Customer Service Centre offers one stop shopping at City Hall

Deputy Mayor Sean Lawlor, Mayor Al McDonald and Councillor Dave Mendicino cut the red ribbon to officially open the new Customer Service Centre at City Hall today.

Spinning it as a one stop shopping hub city officials officially cut the ribbon opening the new Customer Service Centre at City Hall Thursday morning.

From paying taxes, water bills, or parking tickets to booking a sports field the centre, located in the main lobby, will help speed up the process which had folks running all over the building from department to department in the past.

Deputy Mayor Sean Lawlor says tax payers were calling on councillors to be smart with resources and find efficiencies and after careful study and use of technology they moved to streamline resources and consolidate services.

“Really it’s about you know serving the customer better and at the same time there are financial savings as well,” states Lawlor.

The efficiencies do have a downside as the move results in a loss of three positions. One of the eliminations is that of the switchboard receptionist leaving folks to navigate their way through the automated phone service for the right department or talking to one of the five Service Centre Employees.

Lawlor says of the staff members involved no one has been laid off to date as they are covering maternity leaves for other employees and he hopes it doesn’t come to that.

“The idea is if we can find appropriate jobs if people do leave, if there is an ability to fill from within that’s obviously going to be our goal. We value our employees and the work they do for the city but if there aren’t opportunities down the road then certainly that’s going to be an option.”

He says the city will realise $110,000 in savings annually with the move.

He also says the city is not finished looking for efficiencies as they move forward.