While officials at City Hall are developing a job description for a new public information officer, some on Columbus City Council aren’t sure the position needs filling at all.
Longtime PIO Joe Dillon resigned earlier this month, wrapping up his duties Jan. 15.
Mayor Keith Gaskin told The Dispatch on Thursday morning he is working with Chief Operations Officer Jammie Garrett and Chief Financial Officer James Brigham to develop a job description.
One of the issues they’re grappling with is whether the position should be filled by a contractor or a full-time city employee, Gaskin said. Dillon worked for the city on a contract that paid him $32,000 per year.
“This time around, I’m seriously considering recommending (the PIO) be a full-time employee with an office at City Hall,” Gaskin said. “I don’t know that the position will end up looking like it did when (Dillon) had it. We’re looking at more of a traditional PIO-type position, which is usually someone who keeps regular office hours.”
He said he hopes the city can find someone with communications experience, but also someone who is tech-savvy and has social media skills.
“There are many more ways to reach the public with critical information,” he said. “We’re looking at upgrading some of our software to improve the website, and maybe even creating an app citizens can use to get direct information from us.”
He said there wasn’t a firm timeline yet, but he hopes a job description and qualifications would be settled by the end of the month.
“I would hope we would be advertising in early February,” Gaskin said.
Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones isn’t convinced the position needs to be refilled.
“I’m leaning toward not hiring anybody at all, to be honest,” Jones said. “I don’t think we really need one.”
He said he thinks Columbus Police Department needs a PIO, but the city itself does not.
“That’s money we could save,” Jones said.
Dillon, in addition to his PIO duties, streamed city meetings — including regular council meetings, work sessions and Gaskin’s twice-monthly press conferences — as well as building and installing security cameras. He also handled Federal Emergency Management Agency-related hazard mitigation documentation in the wake of the February 2019 EF-3 tornado and flooding.
Dillon is in the midst of a dispute with the city over his hazard mitigation work. He argues the city owes him more than $50,000 for work performed between 2019 and 2023.
“The information technology people can handle the Facebook (streams) and things of that nature,” Jones said. “As far as a (PIO), the police department can hire one for the police department. That’s mostly what people are concerned about, anyway.”
Ward 3 Councilman Rusty Greene told The Dispatch he isn’t sure where he stands.
“I want to see where it goes with the job description,” he said. “I think it’s an important job, but I don’t know that it’s a full-time job. … It doesn’t make sense to put someone else on the payroll when we’re having to find something else to make them a full-time employee.”
He said he is receptive to merging the PIO role with another one.
“I think we need to look and see if we can solve another problem where we’re short, and somebody can fill in and do that as well,” he said. “(PIO) is an important position, and we definitely need to refill it.”
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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