Collins didn’t get branch libraries reopened, but within two weeks of her meeting with Houston, Sunday hours were restored at the downtown main library, a goal that Houston set in May.

“In Margaret’s case, I was very upfront with her: We can’t afford to have branch libraries,” Houston says a few days later.

But closing the main branch on Sundays, once the library’s busiest day of the week, didn’t make sense, Houston says.

“Realizing that was the case, we needed to provide some additional hours,” the mayor says. “I think that also sent a message that we are going to make changes and do things differently.”

Houston cites his replacing Robert “Barry” Helmerichs with Ken Fustin as fire chief as another example of breaking with the old. Helmerichs remains with the department as a deputy chief.

“When I came into office in the city of Springfield, a fire chief had never been demoted,” Houston says. “I think that sent a message that change was taking place and we’re not simply going to do things because that’s the way we have always done things. It really is a matter of looking at city government and saying how can we do things more efficiently.”

Contact Bruce Rushton at [email protected].