Vancouver mayor dumps city manager

In his first week on job, Vancouver's newmayor has announced a major shakeup at city hall.

Mayor Gregor Robertson and his new city council announced Friday they have decided to replace the city's top bureaucrat, city manager Judy Rogers.

In her place, the council has already hiredPenny Ballem, a former deputy minister of health forB.C.'s Liberal government

Ballem, who was one of Canada's most experienceddeputy health ministers,resigned from that position in June 2006 over concerns about how the Campbell government was running theprovince's health care system.

Robertson said the decision was made this morning, and Judy Rogers has accepted a severance package in line with her 20 years of employment with the city.

Rogers, who has served as city manager since 1999, was the highest paid employee at city hall with a pay package worth$292,000 in 2007.

The departure of Rogers is the second change in the top management at city hall under the new mayor and council

The city's chief financial officer, Estelle Lo, resigned just after the Nov. 15 civic election.