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Rawlins council pauses hiring of deputy city attorney amid debate over reassigning funds
Summary
The Rawlins City Council voted to place a hold on hiring for the deputy city attorney position after extended discussion about whether the allocated funds should be reallocated to an assistant city manager or planner to address staff workload. Council approved the hold via online vote.
The Rawlins City Council voted to place a hold on the hiring process for the deputy city attorney position following a lengthy discussion about the city’s organizational chart and whether the money earmarked for that post should be reallocated to relieve overworked staff.
Council member Weisenberg moved to place the hiring hold, and Council member Smith seconded. Debate focused on where the deputy position sits in the organization and whether the funds might better serve as an assistant city manager or planner. One council member argued many staff are “working over 60 hours a week” and recommended reallocating the deputy’s funds to hire an assistant manager to reduce burnout.
City legal counsel and others clarified procedural and budgetary rules: freezing a position does not remove it from the budget, and the council — not staff — retains authority over the city attorney position. Members also discussed whether the deputy post is listed under the city manager in the current organizational chart and whether that chart needs correction.
After discussion and an attempted amendment to reallocate the funds, the council held online voting. The motion to place a hold on the hiring process passed in the recorded online vote.
The council left open the option to revisit the allocation and organizational-structure issues in a future workshop, and staff said they would work with council leadership on next steps.
