By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council appeared to want to figure out a way to make Human Relations Director Datjeda Moore's position full-time, especially in light of the Hutchinson Community Foundation's willingness to fund the salary difference for 36 months, but they were still working on the details at their meeting Tuesday morning.
"The fiscal note on this is quite small," said Mayor Jade Piros de Carvalho. "Considering the fact that it's already being funded at 30 hours and we have outside private funding being put forth for this too. We're looking at maybe 20 grand to cover benefits and program expenses."
The main criticism leveled of having the position in the first place is that the city's caseload doesn't justify a person for that when there is the same function at the state level. The council appeared to have an appetite for changing the director's job description to better fit more of an outreach role.
"I think it's super important that we talk about job description, the ordinance and the scope of duty," said council member Sara Bagwell. "I think we could create something that's new."
Council member Jon Daveline didn't want to spend any additional city funds on the position beyond the current budget. The Mayor wanted to take the benefit dollars out of the ending balance, but she was willing to look at what else could be done. City Human Resources Director Tom Sanders was asked to get a potential revised job description together and have it to look at by the next council meeting August 4.