EAST PROVIDENCE — The City Councilman first suggested an immediate hiring freeze that shouldn’t end until East Providence’s dismal financial picture is more manageable.

Yet Bruce DiTraglia’s recommendation softened as others raised concerns Tuesday night.

His colleagues questioned those positions that may need to be filled and one that is close to being selected, such as the affirmative action director’s job that has been vacant since the fall. Other city officials said contractual obligations and state law mandates could prevent such a freeze.

The council unanimously agreed to have City Manager Richard Brown, who was absent Tuesday night, come back to the council with measures and suggestions to limit or reduce the number of employees he manages.

“I just know we have to do something,” DiTraglia told The Journal after the meeting, while emphasizing the city has a deficit of $3.1 million or more to fix this fiscal year. “I didn’t want to get rid of any positions, but just put them on hold.”

DiTraglia, who works in the maintenance division of the state Department of Transportation, started that night with a story of when the state reduced a DOT division to five employees — three administrators and two workers. He said projects were completed, but they took more time.

“I can’t see hiring now [given the deficit],” he said. “I’m sure with the personnel we have we can manage. If it has to get done it will get done, but not right away.”

In the past two weeks, however, a panel interviewed applicants for the job formerly held by Onna Moniz-John, who retired last year. The affirmative action position is “critical,” the entire council, including DiTraglia, said in October. While the council said the office had to be manned daily, it hasn’t been since Moniz-John left.

“Many are not being served [by this vacancy], and it’s hindering the community,” Councilman Bryan Silva said.

The city is also in the process of hiring police officers to fill vacancies. Several physical and other examinations have been completed, and background checks are being conducted.

“It seems to me that we have more than enough police officers in the city,” DiTraglia said twice.

Yet police Chief Hubert J. Paquette, who was in attendance, said it appears his department is full because there is a minimum staffing requirement for each shift. He said the department has managed by assigning overtime, but there is another contractual rule that doesn’t allow officers to work more than 16 hours in a 24-hour period.

Fire Department Chief Joseph Klucznik said his department doesn’t meet minimum manning as it is described in federal guidelines. It suggests five firefighters on every apparatus and truck when it is sent out, but East Providence uses two or three firefighters per apparatus most of the time.

Before the council’s decision to solicit input from Brown, Councilwoman Valerie Perry said, “I don’t think the city manager would fill a job if he didn’t think it was essential. I think he has a handle on things.”

apina@projo.com