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Portsmouth council adopts administrative-code changes to centralize IT and HR authority after heated debate
Summary
Portsmouth City Council on Monday adopted revisions to the city’s administrative code that centralize certain IT and human-resources authorities — a change supporters said is needed for cybersecurity and coordination and opponents said risks charter department independence.
Portsmouth City Council on Monday adopted revisions to Chapter 1 of the city’s administrative code that clarify centralized roles for the city’s human resources and information technology functions and align the ordinance with charter amendments voters approved earlier this year.
The council passed third and final reading, as amended, by roll call vote 8–1. Councilor Denton cast the lone no vote. Councilors narrowed language during third reading to specify "operational efficiency of IT systems." The council also corrected a typographical citation to RSA 21‑P:39 before voting.
The changes implement charter amendments approved by voters in February that the city attorney, Morrill, said require administrative-code updates so the city has a single municipal IT and HR structure serving city departments and charter bodies (police, fire, schools). "The purposes behind the changes ... are to ensure that the IT department and the CIO has the authority to establish standards for cybersecurity and compliance," Morrill told the…
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