Leamington council is backing $400,000 in new staffing positions.
Mayor John Paterson was the tie breaker in the 4-3 vote approving in principle the hiring of four new positions and enhancing a fifth. He says staff are currently being overworked.
"We've had people working here for a month for free basically; on weekends, evenings and all kinds of stuff, so it's got to change," says Paterson. "We're burning out our staff."
Peter Neufeld, the municipality's chief administrative officer, recommends council hire four new positions and enhance a fifth position. A tax and revenue specialist, an IT systems position, a by-law officer and a tourism officer are the new jobs the CAO wants to see approved while a financial systems specialist would replace the current finance and business assistant position.
Councillor Tim Wilkinson liked some of what the CAO recommended, but isn't sold on the idea of hiring another by-law officer or tourism officer.
"The wording in it [the motion] do I agree with it in principle? I do, but not for 2016. Two of the four I'm not in favour of for 2016. I just don't feel we're ready for that just yet," says Wilkinson.
Neufeld stressed the need of the new positions to council.
"Let's not forget why we're doing what we're doing here. We're trying to develop the three pillars of economic development: business retention and expansion, community development and tourism," says Neufeld. "We have a certain amount of time to diversify our economic base and we have to do it now."
The final decision will be made during 2016 budget talks.
