Piedmont City Council Passes Employment Resolution

A new measure has been passed by the Piedmont City Council that prohibits new positions in the city workforce from being created, according to The Anniston Star. Piedmont Mayor Bill Bakers said that the new policy prevents the city of Piedmont from hiring any new employees unless the current position is empty.

Mayor Baker also said that new employees will still be hired for essential positions, but only on an individual case basis.

“If we need somebody we can still hire that person, but we’re going to be selective,” Baker said. He also said that the policy has been created in an effort to save the city money. “Nothing has changed financially.”

During the meeting, a couple of City Council members asked questions about the policy to the mayor. He informed the council how the hiring process would occur and how it would be affected by the policy. A vote was then held on the measure and it received unanimous support from the council.

Mayor Baker noted that the policy will begin immediately and will last for an undetermined amount of time.

Michelle Franklin, the Piedmont City Clerk, noted that the city has to retain a certain amount of employees in order to offer emergency services and utilities to residents of the city.

“We have to keep the services going,” she said.

Baker noted that the policy pretty much continues current hiring practices.

“It’s not that much difference,” Baker said. “We just don’t have the money to hire all that we would like.”