Discussions got tense Tuesday during a strategic planning meeting for the Chattanooga City Council.
Following up on weeks of talk about adjusting pay scale for the council’s four-person staff, Councilman Chip Henderson presented a plan to restructure the staff, increasing pay and changing the descriptions and requirements for its members.
Henderson’s plan would include an executive secretary, a clerk, an administrative assistant and a legislative and management specialist.
But some of the council balked at the notion of restructuring.
Councilmen Yusuf Hakeem, Moses Freeman and others said it sounded as though current staff would lose their jobs and have to re-apply.
While technically true, Henderson said that was not the main intention.
After nearly an hour of discussion, the council ultimately voted to table the discussion until next week, after members could read further in to Henderson’s plan and consider other suggestions.