Two longtime city employees have been named co-interim directors of the city’s IT department.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen Monday named IT employees Rick Beers, a computer programmer, and Pam Freeman, an IT specialist, to head the department for an unspecified amount of time. Both, Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said, have 15 years experience in the department.

Beers’ and Freeman’s appointments followed a more than one-hour executive session that was recessed Monday morning and reconvened that afternoon. Their appointments come one week after former city IT director Billy Gordon announced his retirement. Beers’, Flaggs said, will hold the title of director and Freeman assistant director.

The appointments are effective immediately, he said.

Both were interviewed during the afternoon closed-door session.

“We thought it best to promote from within and at the present time make it interim, and look at all salaries and positions, and we will revisit the raises in July,” he said.

“Everybody ought to be commended, because we’re saving $102,000,” Flaggs said, referring to Gordon’s salary, which was $112,506.

“I think it’s a good idea to promote from within,” South Ward Aldermen Willis Thompson said. “Both these employees have worked her 15 years. They need to know their efforts are rewarded. They have done a very good job. I think IT will be in good hands.

“The people in IT know their jobs and what they have do to. This is a good opportunity improve.”

Gordon was a city employee for 32 years and IT director for 25, serving under six mayors. During his tenure as director, the city redesigned its website and developed online bill paying services for gas and water bills.