DUANE SHERRILLEditor

The city will be farming out its human resource services as the board of mayor and aldermen voted to hire an outside firm to handle the job.

The decision directed city officials to “Research outside firms to provide HT services to the city including performance reviews, employee grievance, support for updating city personnel policies and other services as determined by the mayor and aldermen.”

“If we take this action, it in no way reflects on any dissatisfaction whatsoever,” Alderman Kurt Glick said assuring Lori Ashley, who has taken on the HR task, that it had nothing to do with her performance. “She had a full-time job before as city recorder.”

Glick explained that hiring an HR from outside they were be able to give non-biased professional recommendations to the city.

City attorney Stephen Worsham noted that there is need for expertise in the area of human resources to fend off legal issues.

“These people are experts,” said city attorney Stephen Worsham. “None of us are. We’re not, y’all are not. They can help us develop the right kind of personnel policies consistent with the law in addition to helping us with the employee relations that we need.”

Alderman Busch Thoma agreed, noting lawsuits can cost the city dearly.

 “It’s protection for us, the board and employees and frankly protections for the citizens because of lawsuits,” Thoma said.

Alderman Jerry Mathis interjected that hiring a third party for HR would not make Tullahoma immune to lawsuits.

“It may put us in a position where we don’t have to the worry about it as much,” Thoma countered.

Brittany Hoskins said there are no plans to eliminate positions but instead the Tullahoma employees would be a resource and work with the company selected to handle HR.

The measure passed unanimously during special session last Thursday.