Emanuel Announces City Council Reorganization Plan

CHICAGO (WBBM/CBS) -- Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel has formally announced his agreement with the planned reorganization of the Chicago City Council.

As WBBM Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, the biggest change is that 19 City Council committees will shrink to 16.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports

Police and Fire Committee chair Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) will become president pro tempore of the City Council, while Ald. James Balcer (11th) takes Harris' place as head of the Public Safety Committee.

Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), the owner of the Ann Sather's restaurant chain, becomes chairman of the Committee on Economic Capital and Technology.

Powerful Finance Committee Chairman Ald. Edward Burke (14th) will keep his post.

Emanuel says there are also cost savings involved in the moves.

"There is no change-free zone when it comes to City Hall," Emanuel said. "The Mayor's Office has reforms, changes and savings. The City Council will have reforms, changes and savings, and as we pursue a budget to bring other reforms and changes, City Hall has put some skin in the game."

City department heads have been told to trim their management payroll by 10 percent, which would necessitate a combination of salary reductions and some job cuts.

CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reported Tuesday that job and/or salary cuts must total 10 percent per department. Non-union middle- to upper-management-level employees would be affected. The cuts could also be achieved by not filling open positions.

In:
• Chicago City Council
• Edward Burke
• Tom Tunney