The city has temporarily promoted city spokeswoman Debbie George into the chief of staff position.

George will take over the duties Oct. 3 while the permanent chief of staff, Sherry Hunt, is assigned to oversee records retention and management related to the new E-911 call center and municipal center.

“An important component of the planning and design of the facility will be a focus on electronic records management and related technology improvements,” stated a Wednesday press release from the city. “An important goal is to move city offices into the new facility and to leave behind a number of antiquated, costly and time consuming record keeping and document management systems and outdated business procedures.”

Hunt will help maintain compliance with state records retention laws, the release continued.

While in her temporary assignment as chief of staff, George will continue to be the city’s spokeswoman and handle media inquiries. Diana Klink, Media and Community Relations manager, will oversee the operations of that department.

Also, several new permanent employees were announced Wednesday. Solomon H. Ashby Jr. joined the city as an assistant city attorney. He previously represented police officers in personal injury lawsuits as a senior assistant city attorney for Atlanta. He attended the University of Wisconsin School of Law.

Next week, Gerald Rhoads will begin as the assistant director of capital programs and buildings. He has more than 10 years of private-sector project management and operations.

Finally, Debbie White has assumed her new role as the city’s finance director. She has more than 10 years of public accounting and government finance experience, most recently serving the Augusta County Service Authority.