The county's hiring freeze is thawing but not melting.

The Moore County Board of Commission-ers on Monday voted unanimously to remove a hiring freeze imposed earlier this year to address revenue losses.

County Manager Cary McSwain was instructed to cut personnel by 2 percent, amounting to more than a half-million dollars annually. The cuts are to be accomplished through attrition.

McSwain said Tuesday that the board's directive should not pose a problem. He said that the less critical positions can usually be delayed 90 days, and it takes a minimum of 30 days to fill all positions.

"It wasn't really a freeze," McSwain said. "It was a board review."

Commissioner Nick Picerno made the motion to remove the hiring freeze and pointed out that the board had exempted every position brought to its attention since the freeze was implemented.

"This way he has options," Picerno said. "I don't want anybody fired."

Chairman Tim Lea agreed, adding that "we can pass the responsibility back to the manager."

The decision came after the commissioners voted unanimously to exempt four positions from the freeze, two with public works, one each with the social services and health departments.

Rather than imposing an official freeze, the commissioners decided several months ago that they would consider each position on an individual basis. During this period, McSwain presented details about the need to fill each vacated position.

Exempted positions were determined either to be essential to protect public health and welfare or to maintain efficient county government operations.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.