Committee holds community wellness director hire; debates innovation analyst funding and approves two city attorney pay-range changes

Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevich's Finance & Personnel Committee on May 7 voted to hold a vacancy filing for the Community Wellness & Safety director (file 11,730) at the request of Alderman Sharlene Moore, who said recent increases in violent incidents underscored the need for clearer council oversight of the office.

Moore told the committee she wanted "a little bit more oversight" and an opportunity for council input on who fills a key post that handles violence-prevention work and community trauma response. Administration officials said the position had been posted May 2 with a closing date of May 23 and that an acting director, Karen Tyler, is carrying out duties in the interim. Harper Donohue (Department of Employee Relations) explained recruiting outreach already under way and said the administration was prepared to work with…