EASTHAMPTON — The city’s mayor this week instructed city councilors to direct questions meant for city employees through her office.
Mayor Nicole LaChapelle said the directive is meant to allow employees to focus on their jobs.
At Wednesday’s council meeting, LaChapelle said that councilors contacting department heads has been a problem in the past.
“It just takes them off task,” she said.
She also said that she didn’t want councilors to lobby for the interests of individual city employees or volunteers.
The instructions do not appear to have caused waves on the council.
“I’m not overly concerned about this,” City Council Vice President Salem Derby said.
LaChapelle reminded councilors in an email Wednesday that all questions asked “publicly or privately” of city employees must be directed to the mayor’s office. She then provided her city email and cellphone number.
In response to a question from District 5 Councilor Daniel Rist, LaChappelle clarified that she felt it was still appropriate for councilors to contact department heads about specific legislation, policy and constituent matters. However, she said that this was not the case for executive matters, like the appropriation of funds within a department budget.
Rist also said that he and the other councilors are aware that personnel matters are usually very confidential.
“That’s something I would never ask,” he said.
“This hasn’t happened in the past,” said Derby, speaking Friday on the protocol announcement.
Derby has served for 15 years on the council.
However, Derby said that such a protocol does make sense, saying that it is not the job of the council to do administrative oversight.
“We’re the legislative branch,” he said. He also said that he did not see the policy as a power grab.
In a text Friday, LaChapelle said that the move was not a communication ban, nor was it an attempt to separate departments. She also pointed to her advocacy for communication and transparent government.
She said that the email was an attempt to address “chaotic and inconsistent communication practices on matters related to budget, personnel or other confidential matters.”
“In an effort to provide order and protocol, I have asked city councilors to direct questions, requests or concerns related to these subjects to me and the mayor’s office,” she continued.
At the meeting LaChapelle also announced that she had posted the 40-hour position of chief of staff, which will assist the mayor in performing her duties.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.