PORT TOWNSEND — Extraordinary city staff turnover that has left 14 staff positions vacant is prompting City Manager David Timmons to consider greater reliance on consultants.
In less than a week, the city’s top administrator learned that the Port Townsend police chief, a legal assistant and possibly a city engineer plan to resign.
Several other positions remain unfilled or are expected to become vacant.
“Overall, about 14 positions in the city are going through a transition,” Timmons told the City Council on Monday night.
The city, at full strength, employs 108.
The city currently has two city engineer positions open, and a city firefighter has retired.
Another police officer has indicated plans to relocate for family reasons.
A children’s librarian has also left, as well as a billing clerk in city’s Finance Department.
“I am trying to find a pattern,” Timmons said during an interview Tuesday.
Coincidental moves
He said he believes the personnel shortage is caused by employees making coincidental “lifestyle changes,” complicated by the difficulty of recruitment for technical positions.
Last month’s reorganization of the city’s Development Services Department also prompted creation of several new city administrative positions, such as a department director and building inspector.
“Without these positions filled, it would be very difficult to move city projects forward,” Timmons said.
“We are holding off two new projects like transportation and a stormwater plan.”