GULF SHORES, Ala. — Two new executive positions are in the works for the city of Gulf Shores. The city council passed a resolution Monday for the creation of a Director of Recreation and Cultural Arts position as well as a Finance and Administrative Services Director.

Interestingly, both positions are being formed on the heels of many cutbacks and layoffs of several city employees.

According to the city’s Web site, the position of Recreation and Cultural Arts Director will be filled by an individual with a degree in recreation administration, sports management or public administration and the starting salary will be in the $65,000 to $85,000 range.

Harold Samples is presently employed as the director of Parks and Recreation, a position he has held for the past 22 years.

Working to plan and coordinate all aspects of city financial management and administrative services will be the job for the new Finance and Administrative Services Director.

The position will oversee city accounting, revenue, purchasing, information technology and human resources.

The council hopes to find an individual with a degree in accounting, financial management or CPA, and the salary will start around $80,000.

“We are budget conscious, but our goal is also to be effective and efficient in everything we do throughout the city,” said Mayor Robert Craft.

“There have been some questions about the timing of adding new personnel at a time when we are trying to cut budgets and get things financially manageable,” added Councilman Philip Harris. “Some of our departments have grown and they demand more personnel. We didn’t want to give up our level of service.”

Councilman Jason Dyken said that the finance committee has been diving deep into all the various departments and believes that establishing a unified department of finance will result in much more effectiveness for the city.

“Despite the fact that there is a cost involved with hiring a Finance and Administrative Services Director, we felt that, not just looking at today or six months from now, but down the road, this will establish a foundation to have a very effective finance department within the city,” Dyken said.

Dyken also said that it is necessary to have this position to make sure the city is receiving all the revenue that it generates, and making sure they are accounting that revenue in an effective manor.

“Our goal and our challenge is to have an effective operation and to run the city the best we can, but be financially aware of the budget that we live under, and watch how we manage and spend the money,” Craft said.