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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,June 18, 2018 Page 13 Councilmember McGehee responded that this plan leaves the City unprotected. She wondered if some transition time would be helpful. She noted the City Man- ager has not previously asked the Council for additional help in HR. City Manager Trudgeon responded he has come forward before the Council a couple of times, and adjustments were made. The senior office assistant was a part-time position, and that person was made full-time to help with HR roles. The creation of the Assistant City Manager position was also created to provide sup- port for HR as well as other organizational areas. Staff has tried to make do with what has been present, but that can no longer continue. Councilmember McGehee stated she has heard about the City's challenges with lack of an applicant pool due to less than competitive salaries. It seems a variety of issues are being addressed by shuffling people around, in a way that has had a chilling effect in the organization. Additionally, a long-term employee was ter- minated without any notice to the rest of the organization, and no reasons were given. The question is why there is not a place to downgrade the employee, which has been done in other circumstances. Additionally, this is another one of the ex- ecutive women positions, and now that is being reduced by one more. She did not hear enough specifics for how this is actually efficient. It also has the potential for being damaging. Councilmember Laliberte summarized that the department assistant will have a new title of HR assistant. The Deputy City Clerk will be a posted position after the election when people are more likely to apply. City Manager Trudgeon concurred that is correct. Mayor Roe offered an opportunity for public comment, with no one coming for- ward. Mayor Roe asked if Council action needs to be taken with regard to the elimina- tion of the HR manager position. City Manager Trudgeon responded he was not looking to do that this evening. It may be better to have that on the shelf, if future needs change. Councilmember Willmus stated if this is the direction that City Manager wants to head, these changes need to be made. He would not be supportive of holding that position on the shelf. Either there is confidence in the plan going forward, or there is not. If the City holds the position on the shelf, it defeats what has been put forward with regard to overall cost to the organization. He also noted that if the City is looking for efficiencies within Administration, there are other areas that should be looked at going forward. The Communications department has been looked at, and it should be looked at again. He can see the perspective of