Two high-ranking members of City of Edmonton administrative staff are leaving their positions and more changes could soon be coming to the executive leadership team.

Deputy city managers Catrin Owen and Kim Armstrong are set to end their employment at the City on April 14, according to an internal staff email on Friday. Both Owen and Armstrong are department heads, top brass outranked only by city manager Andre Corbould.

It’s unclear whether Owen, deputy city manager for communications, and Armstrong, deputy city manager for employee services, are leaving voluntarily. Both were hired in 2018. The staff memo, obtained by Postmedia, states that the departures “are the right decision for them personally and for the organization. They built departments and enhanced services at a time when we needed stronger communications and human resources supports,” Corbould wrote.

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Neither the city’s communications department, nor Owen nor Armstrong, have clarified the nature of these departures.

“On behalf of the entire Executive Leadership Team, we appreciate the significant contributions of our two colleagues. Catrin and Kim served the City exceptionally well, and lived the leadership competencies as they strengthened how the City connects with Edmontonians and focused on creating and enhancing a positive employee experience,” Corbould said in a statement sent to Postmedia. “They both took a relationship-based approach to their work that has set a standard for how we deal with one another and with Edmontonians. We wish them the very best in their future endeavours.”

These changes come after city council tasked Corbould with finding $60 million in cuts over four years while also reallocating $240 million to council’s priorities during the four-year budget debates in December.

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Corbould references the pending cuts in the staff email about Owen and Armstrong’s departures. He suggests the leadership team may have further shakeups.

“I am reviewing the size and function of the Executive Leadership Team, and will ensure that we have the right structure in place to meet Council priorities and implement the budget reallocations required under OP12. I will be making decisions in the coming weeks,” the internal memo states. “In the meantime, staff will continue to deliver the employee services and communications services the organization needs.”

City communications staff did not directly answer Postmedia’s questions as to whether or not the two deputy city managers’ jobs are ending as result of what staff call “OP12,” which is the directive from council to make cuts over four years.

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Questions directed to Mayor Amarjeet Sohi’s office were not answered by print deadline.

The city also declined to release the managers’ salaries. Instead, Postmedia was directed to a page on the city’s website listing salary ranges and was told to file a freedom of information request for specifics. The most senior positions pay between $249,000 and $311,000, according to the city’s data portal.

Owen declined to comment. Armstrong told Postmedia her last four-and-a-half years at the city have allowed her “to learn, grow and expand in immeasurable ways.”

“I am deeply appreciative of the folks that have worked alongside me to create an ever more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace culture. I have no further comment,” Armstrong wrote in a message on LinkedIn.

Meanwhile, the City of Edmonton is looking to hire a new deputy city manager of city operations. The position is currently held by Gord Cebryk who intends to leave his position at a future date, the city confirmed.

lboothby@postmedia.com

@laurby