DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne City Council voted 4-3 in favor of creating a position in the city’s finance department, despite a hiring freeze in place to limit new positions and hires and save money this fiscal year.

After much debate, the council voted 4-3 to appropriate $65,423 annually, which includes benefits for the employee, and authorized the mayor to move forward in hiring someone to fill a Finance Department position.

Kim Briley, the Finance Department director, approached the council at previous meetings to request the creation of a deputy finance-director position. Briley told the council the department’s workload had greatly increased in recent years and had become so large the department couldn’t handle it in a timely manner. The new position will require the hiring of a C.P.A. and bring the total number of employees in the finance department to 11.

Prior to voting, Councilman Derek Boulware thought the issue warranted additional discussion.

“We are discussing not only the hiring of a new position but actually developing a new position that didn’t previously exist in the city. This position is coming from the recommendation of the finance director herself … this is one of these examples where we have to take a step back and check what we are doing,” Boulware said.

Council member August Palumbo agreed that creating the position amid a hiring freeze needed additional consideration.

“A couple of things bother me. As Mr. Boulware said, we are growing government here; this is not replacing someone … right in the face of trying to hold down expenses and perhaps reduce the payroll. The other thing that I question a little bit is where was this need a few months ago when we got the budget? This council has worked very hard not to lay off employees, not to give furloughs, not to give pay cuts. I would like to remind the county that some of our sister cities right here in Baldwin County have laid off a large number of employees.”

Council member John Lake said Briley has rarely asked for assistance and since she was asking for assistance now it must be needed.

“I don’t think I remember in the last 18 years Mrs. Briley coming to ask for anything like this. I think she has been very conservative when she asks for help,” Lake said.

Council member Ron Scott agreed.

“I think this is a position we need to fill,” Scott said.

Councilman Bailey Yelding said if the hiring freeze is hindering the city’s ability to conduct business in a timely manner, maybe the hiring freeze needed to be done away with.

“I think if this hiring freeze will create a situation where the city will stand still, we need to repeal that hiring freeze … we have got to carry on and do the business of the city and we have to have employees to do that,” Yelding said.