EASTHAMPTON — Despite ongoing vacancies in its planning director and senior planner positions, officials say the city’s Planning Department is running smoothly for the time being as the search continues to replace these top leadership positions.

The department has kept its wheels in motion thanks in part to collaboration with other city departments, such as the Department of Public Works, which has historically worked closely with Planning, said Associate Planner Dillon Maxfield.

It has been roughly four months since Jeff Bagg departed as the department’s director of planning and community development, and roughly three months since Jamie Webb, former senior planner, left. Maxfield said it took the department about six months to fill the director position with Bagg when it was previously vacant.

“We’re still well within that timeframe,” said Maxfield. “But I’m hoping we fill it sooner rather than later.”

Additionally, Cassie Tragert departed as conservation agent at the end of July, and that post has been filled by Eva Gerstle. In that role, Tragert spearheaded efforts to move Easthampton toward a Climate Leader Community designation.

Filling the vacant leadership positions is something that city officials are keeping a close eye on.

“A strong planning department and having a strong person at the head of that department is one of the most essential aspects of having a thriving and vibrant city,” said City Council Vice President Salem Derby. “For me, this is like priority number one, especially with all the projects we have going.”

Derby said that the City Council has been in close communication with the mayor’s office about the issue, and that there are “candidates on the horizon.”

City Councilor Koni Denham often works with the Planning Department as chair of the council’s Ordinance Committee, and stated that the department has remained “very responsive,” resulting in no slowdowns in committee proceedings.

“Regardless of the fewer staff members, they’ve been able to keep getting things done,” she said. “they’re working really diligently to keep the city running so I really commend them for that.”

The department has also recently undergone some changes, with the creation of a new sustainability coordinator position, and a change in the assistant planner title to that of associate planner, Maxfield’s current position.

The city was required to create a sustainability coordinator position as part of the requirements of becoming a Climate Leader Community, a designation that could mean funding opportunities for carbon-conscious projects. The sustainability coordinator, who will be a member of the DPW, will be responsible for leading carbon emissions reduction and other citywide sustainability efforts included in the city’s Climate Action Plan.

Maxfield has been able to utilize the collective knowledge within City Hall to answer questions and make sure his projects remain on track, but he recognizes the relief that will come when the director and senior planner positions are filled. Maxfield has held the associate planner position for roughly nine months, and is learning on the job as quickly as possible.

“There’s definitely going to be some times where some institutional knowledge is beneficial when there’s someone who calls with specific questions,” he said. “It’s a tough time just in general to be without a full department.”

While Maxfield has been working quickly to fill any gaps in his own institutional knowledge, and those in City Hall work to find the best candidates for the jobs, city councilors say that projects are continuing to move forward at their regular pace.

“The city is moving forward,” said City Council President Homar Gomez. “There’s nothing that, as we can tell, is going slower.”

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.