The City of Piedmont has implemented a hiring freeze.

The cost-cutting measure will mean only positions vital to the performance of city services will be filled.

For instance, vacancies in the police department, which is currently shorthanded.

Mayor Bill Baker.

There was some debate as to whether or not the council should have the final say on the hiring of city employees. However, in the end the hiring freeze was approved unanimously as presented by the Mayor.

In other action, the council voted to accept the donation of the West Ladiga Building to the city from Wenford Dean Humphrey.

We asked if there were any plans for the property.

The city received another donation Tuesday night.

Harry Nuttall presented a check to the council.

Mr. Nuttall lives outside the city limits and thus pays no city property tax. However, he lives in the coverage zone for Piedmont Police, Fire and EMS.

Each year, he presents a check to help fund those services.