On Wednesday, without fanfare and avoiding the media, Hamilton City Council announced (in a statement) that Jackie Kennedy is Hamilton’s new General Manager of Public Works.
Kennedy has been Acting GM since April when the City terminated the previous GM.
Kennedy joined the City of Hamilton in 2022 as the Director of Engineering Services, an important role in the best of times. She took over in the shadow of the Red Hill Valley Parkway scandal that was centred around previous Engineering Director Gary Moore’s coverup of reports revealing deficiencies in the expressway asphalt that were contributing to collisions.
To say the City’s engineering staff were demoralized would be an understatement. From what little contact I’ve had with the City’s engineering staff in recent times, morale is significantly improved and they are motivated.
The City’s appointment statement hints at this, stating that Kennedy “has also worked diligently to build strong teams and improve morale within her Division, fostering an inclusive, collaborative and accountable culture.”
Moral leadership has been a priority for City Manager Marnie Cluckie. The statement attributed to Cluckie (which reads as something she would write) reads:
“We are fortunate to have Jackie’s leadership and experience guiding this important portfolio and I am confident she will continue to make a positive impact on our organization and community,” said City Manager Marnie Cluckie. “Jackie will be responsible for advancing our goals of operational excellence, service innovation and accountability, while shaping Hamilton’s infrastructure, services and public spaces.”
Public Works is Unwieldy—What Will Kennedy Do in the Next Year?
Public Works is the City’s largest department, and its most important one. It delivers the everyday services that people immediately notice when something goes wrong. Water, transit, garbage pickup, parks, forestry, and roads are just some of the divisions within the department.
Since amalgamation in 2001, the size of Public Works has befuddled attempts at effective management. There is one year left in this Council term. That is not a lot of time for a new GM to make their own impression before meeting a new Council, and potentially a new Mayor.
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Published: September 18, 2025
Last updated: September 18, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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