INUVIK - Mayor Derek Lindsay says he's not overly concerned about several vacant positions at town hall, except the director of finance job, which hasn't been staffed since February.

"We would like to know where we are financially," said Lindsay. "Each different town department needs to know where they are as far as their budget is concerned.

"There's also a new council coming on board at the first of November and there should be something to look at to see where the town is financially."

The director of finance job is the second most senior position next to the senior administrative officer. The other vacant positions include director of community services, recreation programmer, tourism and events co-ordinator, lands officer, and municipal engineer.

Lindsay said the town is in the process of reviewing applications and conducting interviews with the hopes of hiring a director of finance as early as next week, along with a lands and bylaw officer.

He said municipal staff shortages are a constant problem here and a fact of life in the North. But he added it's a slow time of the year and town staff are doing a good job shouldering the extra load, so he's not too worried.

Lindsay said Sara Brown, senior administration officer, is particularly affected by the personnel shortage.

"Our SAO is probably overburdened with a lot of stuff, she's picking up the slack," he said.

But Brown said it's often a consequence of doing business in the North.

"We keep plugging along," she said. "The staff is very hard working. You keep going. It's a constant problem in the North, the challenges with recruiting and keeping positions filled."

She said she's currently reviewing job applications but wouldn't put a time line on any hirings.

"You just don't know," said Brown. "You have to have the appropriate candidate."