DAPHNE, Ala.—Daphne Civic Center Director Margaret Thigpen requested the council fill the center’s vacant events assistant position, even though the city enacted a hiring freeze for fiscal year 2011.

The council was in favor of filling the vacancy, other than Councilman Derek Boulware, who said the city needed to hold firm in its planned tight spending and only fill positions for public safety or emergency areas.

However, Thigpen argued that the Civic Center created more than $300,000 in revenue for the city in 2010, and not having this position would mean fewer events in the building.

“To be honest, the way we would have to work without (this position) is to have less business that we bring in,” she said.

The events assistant would assist in site maintenance, event set-up, coordinating events and customer service. Thigpen said the position would work a 40-hour week on a $10.90 hourly rate.

Councilman Kelly Reese wanted to warn department heads that just because the council may fill this particular position, that doesn’t mean the council will fill each vacant position, or even most.

“There are very few places in the city where an employee represents a very large profit,” he said.