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Central Falls human resources director outlines hiring, wellness and cybersecurity priorities for FY26
Summary
Human Resources Director Josh reviewed 2025 accomplishments—updated hiring, onboarding, records management and several wellness programs—and said FY26 priorities include cybersecurity training, improved emergency plans and a formalized employee review program focused on retention and development within collective bargaining limits.
Human Resources Director Josh presented the HR department’s 2025 achievements and FY26 priorities to the City Council, emphasizing modernization of hiring practices, records consolidation, employee wellness and plans for cybersecurity and employee reviews.
Josh said the department updated hiring and onboarding procedures to align with state and federal guidelines and has reorganized records management to create more accessible, legally compliant employee files. He credited his deputy, Lisa, with launching wellness programs that the department says have already begun to show positive effects on staff health and engagement.
Looking ahead, Josh listed priorities for FY26: a full rollout of cybersecurity training for city staff; reviews and upgrades to emergency incident and evacuation plans; a program to keep new‑hire paperwork current and streamline hiring timelines; and implementation of a regular employee review process focused on development and retention. He emphasized the constraints of collective bargaining, noting that reviews will not substitute for contractually negotiated wage increases but can improve clarity around performance and goals.
Council members thanked Josh for his work and noted underused professional development lines in some departments; Josh and other staff said they will look to better promote training opportunities, use online options and consider cost‑effective conferences. The council and staff agreed to monitor professional development spending and to identify opportunities that provide measurable benefits for retention and skill building.
