The municipality's Policy and Program Development division has been eliminated and its general manager, Mike Vance, let go in the first round of cuts in the ongoing organizational structure review.

Despite The Question being told by Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden on Monday (Jan. 30) that Vance was "on leave," a press release issued late Thursday (Feb. 2) announced that Vance "Is no longer with the organization as that position has been eliminated."

“I would like to recognize Mr. Vance for his work with the organization on behalf of the resort community,” Mike Furey, RMOW chief administrative officer, said in the release.

Vance has a long history with the RMOW, having worked in planning through the 1990s before leaving Whistler for several years. He was re-hired in 2003 to work on the resort's comprehensive sustainability plan.

According to Thursday's release, the work of the Policy and Program Development department will be "reassigned" throughout municipal hall.

Furey is leading the organizational structure, and its goal is "to implement the optimum management structure for the organization," the release says.

Additional changes at the general manager level are still under review with multiple divisions to consider, such as Community Life, Economic Viability, Resort Experience and Environmental Services. A review of the RMOW's structure at the departmental level will follow, the release says.