SELMA — A city council administrative government committee has said no to hiring a consultant to finish work on a personnel manual for employees.

Meeting Monday afternoon, the three-member committee said enough expertise existed within city ranks and from the state Municipal League to get through the process.

Val Jones, the city’s human resources director, had said she thought the council would want a consultant to put the final touches on the thick manual.

The city’s personnel rules have not been updated since 1996.

Council member Corey Bowie said he had gone over the manual with a friend who is a human resources director, “and he had some concerns.”

The work on the manual began earlier this year under the leadership of council member Dr. Monica Newton, who chaired the administrative committee.

Newton’s group, which included Bowie, did not finish the job.

“We really need to get this done,” Bowie said.

The committee of three, including council members Angela Benjamin and B.L. Tucker, said another two or three work sessions likely would take care of the task.

After making changes and having them reviewed, the committee will take them to the full city council for approval.

“We’ll do it as soon as we can,” Bowie said of the project.