The London City Council voted to amend the city’s strength ordinance to add two police support specialist positions and to create a temporary full-time administrative assistant position effective immediately through July 8.

Council discussed whether two support specialist positions were needed to cover shifts; the police chief had indicated two positions would support extended coverage. A council member said the chief “had expressed an interest in having 2 positions in order to cover both shifts.” Another council member noted a 12-hour coverage window was the likely objective rather than 16 hours.

Council adopted a temporary amendment that classifies the administrative assistant as a full-time position from the meeting date until July 8 to allow overlap and training with current staff. A motion was made to suspend the three-reading rule for the strength ordinance and that motion passed by roll call. After further motions and a second, council voted to adopt the strength ordinance as amended; the measure included an emergency clause to implement the temporary staffing change quickly.

Council also discussed that dispatching duties will transfer to the sheriff’s department under a pending contract; the new support specialist positions are intended to absorb duties currently performed by dispatchers and other administrative staff once the contract is in effect.

The council recorded roll-call votes on the suspension and on adoption; the ordinance was announced as passed during the meeting.