The city’s CAO, David Trawin, said the position arose independent of supplemental budget talks and as a result of strategic planning and succession planning. Trawin said social issues have increased in Kamloops, noting staff need help.
The city currently has a social supervisor who reports to the city’s social and culture manager, Barb Berger, and up to the director, Byron McCorkell. Trawin said Berger and McCorkell are both getting swamped, noting those portfolios are large and support is needed beneath.
“With the social issues, the culture’s not getting anything, the recreation’s not getting much,” Trawin said. “Byron’s been involved in the bylaw issue and fire and RCMP, with some of those things, and also social issues. It’s more to get a manager in there so we respond better and there’s more oversight of the social.”