Council members praise departing staff and debate timing of filling community development director role

Council members used their Jan. 20 comments to thank two departing city leaders and to debate whether to fill one position immediately.

Multiple councilmembers publicly thanked Parks & Recreation Director Casey and Community Development Director Amanda Thomas for their service and wished them well. Councilmember Pro Young raised concern about advertising the community development director position at pay grade 27 at this time and asked who authored the job description. He recommended reconsidering the hire until the end of the budget year and possibly for the 2027 budget cycle, citing other personnel needs and pay raises the city might pursue.

Pro Young said the posted job description seemed to duplicate duties the mayor’s administrative assistant previously held and looked "more like it's some kind of chief of staff role," and he suggested the position may not need to be filled immediately. He urged revisiting the funding and pay grade later in the budget process.

Other councilmembers expressed appreciation for both departing staff members and supported exploring internal promotions. One council member noted that the general fund’s net income in the current budget was recorded as $16,000, underscoring constraints until pay-study results and final budget figures are available.

The mayor defended the posted job description and the timing of recruitment, saying the role has existed for decades and is important for strategic planning and human-resources development. "This is the job that is critical to human resource development to strategic planning for the future," the mayor said, and added that the council can always take other actions if it chooses.

What happens next: the position remains posted; council discussion indicated differing views about immediate funding and whether to pursue internal promotion or delay the hire until budget review.