HATTIESBURG

Hattiesburg City Council votes to adopt hiring freeze

Lici Beveridge
Hattiesburg American

Hattiesburg City Council voted 4-0 during a special-called meeting Monday to adopt a temporary hiring freeze.

Councilwoman Deborah Delgado was not present at the meeting.

The hiring freeze will allow Mayor-elect Toby Barker the opportunity to make his own hires when he takes office at the beginning of July.

More:Barker defeats DuPree, 2 new council members elected

"I would like to add that this would include transfers and any other movement of personnel," Council President Carter Carroll said. "The new administration will be here in three weeks, and we want them to have every opportunity to select the personnel that they would like." 

The measure passed without discussion.

Barker, a state representative, was elected mayor in the June 6 general election, defeating four-term mayor Johnny DuPree. Barker ran as an independent.

More:With 2 new members, Hattiesburg City Council looks to the future